ABOLISHED 04/16/2015 PER PAY LETTER 15-13 - Recreation Therapist
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: TR50
Class Code: 8317
Established: 10/08/1948
Revised: 04/05/1957
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under direction, to assist with the recreation therapy program of a State institution; and to do other work as required.
Typical Tasks
Leads, instructs, and encourages patients in a program of individual and group activities of a physical, social, and cultural nature such as indoor and outdoor games and sports, dances, parties, dramatics, picnics, and special interest clubs; supervises entertainments and movies and assists in planning programs for special occasions; with the therapeutic team, plans treatment goals for specific patients; assists in coordinating recreation therapy with other therapeutic programs; as assigned, coordinates the activities program of a group of wards including simple crafts, games, social and musical activities, and instructs ward personnel in basic activity skills; observes patients' reactions and progress and keeps clinical notes and records to be included in case histories and prepares reports; orders supplies and equipment and cares for equipment and facilities.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)
Knowledges and Abilities
Knowledge of: Theory and practice of mental and physical rehabilitation of mentally and physically handicapped persons; therapeutic principles and techniques of group and individual activities used in recreation therapy, and skill in their application; various types of recreation and entertainment activities and providing leadership of these activities; basic pathology involved in diseases and injuries resulting in mental and physical handicaps and the physical and psychological problems of the handicapped person.
Ability to: Provide leadership of various types of recreation and entertainment activities; interpret recreation therapy activities to hospital personnel, relatives, patients, and others; teach others basic activity skills; prepare reports and keep records to be included in case histories; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Special Personal Characteristics
Ability to develop and maintain cooperative interrelationships with individuals and groups; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of mentally and physically handicapped persons; tact; patience; emotional stability; pleasing personality; and neat personal appearance.
