Activity Therapist, Dog Handler, Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, Grants with Benefits @ Jackson Health System

Miami, FL Full-Time Activity Therapy

Summary

• The Activity Therapist is responsible for the planning and implementing of specific therapy treatment programs for assigned patients and functions as an integral part of the treatment team.

Responsibilities

• Recognizes patient's level of psychosocial development and modifies approaches according to patient's chronological and developmental age.
• Modifies interview techniques to identify psychosocial needs common to all age, growth and developmental stages.
• Completes initial assessments within three (3) days of admission and reassesses daily.
• Establishes priorities and evaluates patient care utilizing data from patient care record and observation.
• Plans four week work schedule when requested by Program Director.
• Completes QA/QI activities as requested by Program Director.
• Reviews and evaluates the care plan and updates the patient's progress toward resolution of problems every shift.
• Provides individualized instruction to patient and/or significant others regarding the plan of care on an ongoing basis with written documentation of patient's and/or significant other's ability to verbalize understanding of information.
• Reports pertinent changes in patient's status to appropriate treatment team members within thirty minutes.
• Utilizes effective de-escalation measures as alternatives to seclusion/restraint.
• Participates in the collection and documentation of patient information, including physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic needs and communicates findings according to policy.
• Completes documentation of interventions including patient status, response to treatment, unusual events, and planned interventions.
• Enters signature, time, date, and credentials legibly on all charting.
• Orients new personnel and serves as preceptor as delegated by the Program Director.
• Explains all procedures and treatments to patients and/or significant other at each occurrence.
• Observes legal rights of mental health patients, demonstrating knowledge of patient's rights as described in the Baker Act.
• Recognizes signs/symptoms of child/adult/elderly abuse and reports findings to appropriate agency, in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Participates in patient community meetings and regularly conducts Medication Groups.
• Plans, implements and coordinates activity therapy treatment sessions for both individual and group sessions daily.
• Plans and coordinates special holiday events and activities.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Demonstrates behaviors of service excellence and CARE values (Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Expertise).

Experience

• Generally requires 3 to 5 years of related experience.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in related field is preferred.

Skill

• Knowledge in recreational fields and ability in adaptive sports, personal fitness, arts and crafts, self-awareness groups, adventure-based therapy, and leisure skills.
• Ability to analyze, organize and prioritize work accurately while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment Knowledge and skill in use of job appropriate technology and software applications.

Credentials

• American Heart Association and any additional applicable life support certification for Healthcare Providers may be required at the unit level upon hire with at least 6 months validity and maintenance at JHS for the duration of employment.
• Unit Specific Credential

Working Conditions

• Physical Requirements - Job function requires extended standing or walking.
• Must be able to carry objects weighing 21 to 50 pounds.
• Able to lift or move objects weighing 51 to 100 pounds with the use of appropriate devices.
• Jobs in this group require frequent visual acuity to perform activities related to extended use of computers.
• Additional information and provision requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by the home unit/department in collaboration with the Reasonable Accommodations Committee (RAC).
• Environmental Conditions - Jobs in this group are required to function in a fast paced environment with occasional high pressure or emergent and stressful situations.
• Frequent interaction with a diverse population including team members, providers, patients, insurance companies and other members of the public.
• Function is subject to inside environmental conditions, with occasional outdoor exposures.
• Exposure to various environments such as: communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a hospital and medical office environment.
• May also be exposed to needle sticks, airborne infections, medical gases, X-Ray, chemical exposures and other potential hazards.
• Must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when exposed to infectious/clinical hospital environment.
• Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions.