Recreation Specialist

HeartShare is looking for a Recreation Specialist.The recreation specialist / family counselor develops and provides therapeutic independent living skills programming to the Youth Residential Programs residents and provides counseling and support to the youths’ families. The Recreation Specialist is responsible for planning and organizing engaging daily activities for the Healing Home Program. Recreation specialists handle the event's outline from conceptualization to the actual execution, including the location, resources, participants, and budget limitations. They consider the needs of the participants and develop strategic plans that would cater to the youth’s lifestyle, growth, and development. The recreation specialist may also conduct outreach operations to bring in outside support to foster the youth’s positive growth and development. The recreational specialist also maintains a hazard free, clean and orderly household; prepares meals to conform to menus; completes all required logs, forms and reports, participates in meetings and training as scheduled; accompanies groups or individual youth for outside activities or appointments as scheduled.

Responsibilities

• Conducts, in concert with social work/casework staff, intake assessments of clients and obtains full data on medical history of children and family; initiates medical case planning, and maintains service plan updates.

• Provide individualized care and supervision of each resident.

• Develop a comprehensive activity/recreation plan for all residents.

• Organize and conduct social/recreational/cultural activities.

• Develop community contacts and resources to support the above activities.

• Provide individualized skill assessment, instruction and supervision.

• Accompany, supervise, and provide transportation for activities.

• Assist families in planning activities for children on home visits and in engaging children in activities.

• Help families locate resources in their own communities to support the child and family’s social/recreational/vocational and cultural needs.

• Network with employers in the community to find potential employment opportunities with residents.

• Provide direct care coverage with flexible work hours.

• Organize and facilitate independent living skills groups in the residence.

• Record client progress in regards to independent living skills development.

• Collaborate with inter and intra agency training and ILS initiatives.

• Provide a therapeutic milieu and promote appropriate socialization.

• Create a warm, caring, home-like environment. 

• Participate in the service planning and review process.

• Deliver services in accordance with service goals and objectives.

• Accompany, supervise, and provide transportation (when necessary) for appointments, home visits, sibling visits and activities.

• Promote family involvement and reunification as appropriate.

• Provide counseling and support. Employ trauma-sensitive practices.

• Ensure adherence to medication regimen.

• Provide crisis intervention and behavior management.

• Report incidents, occurrences or untoward events to the supervisor as soon as they occur and complete appropriate paperwork.

• Complete all assigned documentation in a timely fashion.

• Assist in residence household duties (general cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal planning and preparation); train and supervise children in developing these skills.

• Attend supervision and meetings as scheduled.

• Distribute and reconcile petty cash.

• Fulfill any other tasks assigned by Program Manager.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Therapeutic recreation and National Council Therapeutic Recreation Certification eligibility is preferred.
• Ability to work flexible shifts.
• Experience working with youth with serious emotional disturbance.
• Experience working with families of youth with serious emotional disturbance.
• NYS Driver’s License, preferred

Benefits:

• Rewarding Work in a team environment;
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days and holidays;
• 403(B) retirement plan with employer contribution;
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit);
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events;
• Tuition Assistance Program;
• Professional Development opportunities;
• Gympass Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount;
• BJs Membership discount;
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.