THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES SERVICES WORKER                                       L0872

Definition:

This is professional work in the field of therapeutic activities at a facility for individuals with mental health conditions or intellectual disabilities.

An employee in this class designs, implements, and evaluates the therapeutic activity segment of individual program plans to further the comprehensive treatment/habilitation of patients/ residents. Programs are characterized by activities which overlap or combine various aspects of therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, or vocational adjustment services. The employee conducts formal patient/resident assessments of functioning levels, strengths, and needs and formulates suggested methods for responding to assessed needs for presentation to a multi-disciplinary team. The employee participates with the team in the development of individual patients'/residents' program plans, and selects therapeutic activities to meet individual needs identified by the comprehensive team assessment. The employee monitors and reports patient/resident progress to the team and adapts therapeutic activities as dictated by the changing needs of the patient/resident. The employee may train, supervise, or direct non-professional personnel. An important aspect of the work is the on-going review and evaluation of patient/resident needs and progress toward achieving program goals. Work is performed independently under general supervision and is reviewed by a supervisor for quality and achievement of therapeutic activities program goals through observation, conferences and reports.

Examples of Work:

Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates therapeutic activities segments of comprehensive individual patient/resident program plans.

Develops specifically planned therapeutic activity goals and objectives to implement the therapeutic activity segments of comprehensive individual program plans.

Contributes to therapeutic activity program planning and development.

Supervises or directs and instructs therapeutic activity aides in the conduct of individual and group therapeutic activities, which overlap or combine various aspects of therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy and/or vocational adjustment services, such as self care skills training, activities of daily living training, physical restorative activities, pre-vocational activities, and activities related to art, music or dance therapy.

Attends multi-disciplinary team meetings and provides recommendations regarding the use or benefit of specific therapeutic activities methods in the individual patients'/ residents' program plans.

Coordinates scheduling of space, equipment and staff for therapeutic activities within assigned areas and integrates scheduling with services provided by other clinical disciplines.

Screens and prepares referrals to other therapeutic activities or other clinical services.

In mental health facilities, plans and conducts advanced or specialized therapeutic activities for which the employe is clinically privileged.

Provides individual instruction, direction, and support to patients/residents.

Maintains necessary administrative and clinical records, and requisitions supplies and equipment needed for the implementation of therapeutic activities services.

Participates in in- and out-service training to keep abreast of theory and methods in the field of therapeutic activities services.

Participates in therapeutic activity services staff meetings.

May conduct in-service training for aides, volunteers, and other facility staff.  

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the theory and principles of one or more of the therapeutic activity disciplines used in the treatment/habilitation of individuals with mental heath conditions or intellectual disabilities, such as therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, vocational adjustment services; or art, music, or dance therapy.

Knowledge of the various therapeutic activities which overlap or combine aspects of therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, or vocational adjustment services, such as self care skills training, activities of daily living training, physical restorative activities, pre-vocational activities, and activities related to art, music and dance therapy, and the techniques to motivate patient/resident interest in them.

Knowledge of the types and specifications of equipment and supplies needed for therapeutic activities services, and their proper care and maintenance.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior and effective ways of working with individuals with mental heath conditions or intellectual disabilities.

Knowledge of behavioral, rehabilitative, and developmental principles and practices, and their application to daily living situations.

Knowledge of Departmental and facility policy and applicable standards.

Knowledge of health and safety policies, procedures and practices.

Skill in assessing patient/resident functioning level, strengths, needs, and progress of patients/residents relative to therapeutic activities program requirements.

Skill in writing clear and understandable assessments, program plans and progress notes in behavioral terms.

Skill in observing and evaluating patient/resident behavior, and in adapting activities to meet individual needs of patients/ residents.  

Ability to design, implement, and evaluate therapeutic activity segments of individual program plans in accordance with patients'/residents' functioning levels, strengths, and needs.

Ability to write clear and concise therapeutic activities program plan descriptions, goals, and objectives.

Ability to supervise aides.

Ability to foster interest, initiative, responsibility, and independence on the part of patients/residents, and assist them in developing appropriate behavior.

Ability to coordinate therapeutic activities with services offered by other clinical disciplines.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to instruct other professional and non-professional staff in the theory and practice of a therapeutic activities discipline such as therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, vocational adjustment services; or art, music, or dance therapy.

Minimum Experience and Training:

One year as a Therapeutic Activities Services Trainee;

or

Graduation from a four year college or university with major course work in therapeutic recreation, physical education, vocational rehabilitation, vocational education or counseling; occupational art, music, or dance therapy; or a related human services field;

or

Four years of experience in the field of therapeutic activities services for individuals with mental health conditions or physical disabilities;

or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Date Established or Last Revised

Class Specification - 1994

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST06