Dir of Therapeutic Recreation

NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter is a state-of-the-art facility with a 5-Star CMS Quality Rating, equipped with 164-bed Skilled Nursing Facility and 201-bed Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) based in Harlem. Carter excels at providing quality medical, sub-acute, rehabilitative and long-term specialty services for individuals in need of medically-complex care like ventilator weaning. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies our ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnership.

From more than 600 Nursing Homes, Carter ranks #6 in Newsweek's Best Nursing Homes in New York 2024; and also received a high-performance rating for Short-term Rehabilitation from U.S. News & World Report's Best Nursing Homes in America 2024.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Job Description

Position Overview:

Under direction, serves as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team overseeing all aspects of the Therapeutic Recreation Department's activities throughout the Skilled Nursing Facility and managing the daily operations of the department, ensuring the health and safety of residents, patients, visitors, and staff and compliance with all applicable local, state, federal and NYC Health + Hospitals rules and regulations and standards of care, resulting in improved outcomes and patient/resident experience. Promotes the delivery of patient-centered care, quality care and a culture of safety.

Responsibilities:

In addition, to the NYCHHC Corporate Job description attached, the following are the additional task the Director will be responsible for:

• Directs, Assess, plans and coordinates the overall day to day activities of the Department of Therapeutic Recreation Services, Chaplain Services, comprised of Therapists, Chaplains, community liaison, assistant coordinating manager, and Student Interns to deliver quality therapeutic recreation services facility-wide. These services include completing performance evaluations and staff competencies.
• Develops Therapeutic Recreation and Administrative policies and procedures to assure compliance with regulating agencies: Joint Commission, NYSDOH Article 28 and CMS.
• Coordinates Therapeutic Recreation programs with other hospital services, e.g. Human Resources, Rehabilitation, Medicine, Finance, Maintenance & Engineering, Nursing, Volunteers, Chaplaincies, etc.
• Recruits and hires, supervises, evaluates and disciplines Managers and Therapeutic Recreation personnel as needed.
• Provides ongoing guidance and direction to staff regularly.
• Represents the Department of Therapeutic Recreation Services at Interdepartmental Meetings and on committees.
• Conducts Therapeutic Recreation managerial and staff meetings as needed.
• Develops and initiates programs to be implemented by the Therapeutic Recreation staff, arranging for appropriate training as needed.
• Initiates, monitors and evaluates a Performance Improvement Program for the Department when assigned.
• Provide guidance and direction to chaplains, activity therapist in planning and implementing a diversified program which addresses resident's needs and abilities to function at their highest level of independence.
• Works closely with the Auxiliary, Resident Council, to help enhance programming and educates them on the departmental programs, and at times appeals to them for funding support for resident focused projects.
• Confers regularly with residents, families, Administrators, Physicians, other Departments and TR Managers to ensure that a safe, enjoyable program of activities is provided.
• Encourages residents to provide input in planning, also to participate in activities programs.
• Guides staff in ordering and maintaining supplies or materials needed for activity programs, based on knowledge of material usage.
• Responsible for overseeing that all documentation and records such as monthly schedules, daily attendance, unit programs, initial assessments, progress notes, and other documentation, etc. are completed in a timely basis as per department policy.
• Provides opportunities to enhance the therapists' clinical and leadership skills through in-service workshops, conferences and adult education opportunities.
• Develops and implements a working budget, adjusting and modifying according to the needs of the Department, Facility and Corporation.
• Introduces proposals/ideas, etc. to administration for the enhancement of resident care and the environment.
• Identifies needs of the Department and researches, develops and writes grant proposals. Implements and monitors grants when money is ascertained.
• Develops and maintains a Resource File.
• Seeks out new and innovative programs or resources and adapts them for utilization throughout the facility.
• Attends outside conferences to maintain clinical credentials.
• Follows all facility P&P for safety management, pain management and infection control.

Initiates community outreach with organizations and people to foster support in building relationships that support the mission and vision of the dept. and facility.

Minimum Qualifications
1. Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Recreational Therapy or a related discipline; and three (3) years of experience working with residents in a long-term health care environment or a skilled nursing facility performing functions relating to planning, organizing, developing and directing operations and programs in those settings, one (1) year of which must have been in a responsible administrative, managerial, and/or supervisory capacity; or
2. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in disciplines, as listed in #1 above and four (4) years of experience, as described in #1 above, one (1) year of which must have been in a responsible administrative, managerial, and/or supervisory capacity; or
3. Satisfactory equivalent combination of training, education and/or experience.

If you wish to apply for this position, please apply online by clicking the "Apply for Job" button

NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
• Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
• Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
• Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
• College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
• Multiple employee discounts programs