Recreational Therapist

Class Concept

The Recreational Therapist (RT) is assigned to a state hospital, a developmental disability center, a neuromedical center, or an alcohol and drug abuse treatment center or other state agency. The scope of services provided by the Recreational Therapist includes assessment of client care needs and planning and development of individualized treatment goals, objectives, intervention strategies, and other appropriate documentation as required. Employees integrate treatment plans with intervention strategies to attempt to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate functioning and independence of the client. Reassessment and evaluation are consistently conducted and treatment plans are rewritten in collaboration with the treatment team. If appropriate, discharge plans are developed that include consideration of progress towards or achievement of recreational therapy treatment goals, need for continued recreational treatment or aftercare, support systems, leisure needs, financial resources, adaptive skills, and cultural adaptation. Employees in this class report directly to a Recreational Therapy Supervisor. Employees may provide orientation and training for Recreational Therapy Assistants.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of human structures, physiology of human structures, mechanics of movement, lifecycle growth and development.
• Working knowledge of co-occurring disorders and their implications for recreational therapy services are necessary.
• Working knowledge of psychological functioning, pathology in psychological functioning, cognitive learning and motor learning that contribute to health and human functioning.
• Considerable knowledge of adaptive and assistive devices is necessary.
• Considerable knowledge of recreational therapy theory, principles, techniques, and methods as well as their specific implications and applications to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness with an emphasis on restoring, remediation, or rehabilitating physical and/or mental functioning and independence.
• Ability to accurately administer a variety of assessment tools and to assess clients' current functioning level, develop treatment plans, and evaluate progress, as well as to determine needed services and supports according to the professional standards of recreational therapy is required.
• Ability to articulate the philosophy, goals, and strategies of recreational therapy is also required.
• Ability to perform accurate and thorough record-keeping is required.
• Ability to instruct and guide student interns, subordinate staff members, and other medical and paramedical personnel in recreation therapy methods and techniques is required.

Minimum Education and Experience

Licensed to practice recreational therapy by the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure.