Overview
Plans, organizes, and directs creative arts therapy programs and individualized therapeutic services for young adult residents with the objective of improving their physical, mental, and socio-emotional well-being. Provides therapeutic and educational services to families of residents to support goals of bonding, emotional coping, and understanding of needs. Responsible for all required documentation, including MDS and CCP.

Responsibilities

• Provides Creative Arts Therapy sessions (1:1 and groups) to patients and supportive/psychotherapeutic services to patient families.
• Maintains an age-appropriate curriculum of dynamic and engaging daily therapeutic activities (adaptive art, sensory stimulation, games), outings or community inclusion (libraries, museums, cultural events, etc.), and therapeutic groups that provide opportunities for psychosocial enrichment and overall developmental enhancement.
• Evaluate the history, interests, aptitudes, and skills of patients by interviews, assessments, inventories, tests, and measurements in order to provide holistic and individualized treatment.
• Keeps accurate daily records of therapies and completes progress notes to document the types of activities in which the patient participates, patterns of attendance, interpersonal behavior, response to modalities, and progress towards therapeutic goals.
• Works closely with the interdisciplinary team to foster a therapeutic environment and participating in clients' treatment plans, weekly case conferences, and staff meetings.
• Advocates for families and residents adopting a family-centered-care model.
• Reports all unsafe conditions and maintains supplies and equipment.
• Supervise student interns and oversees trained volunteers.
• IF LCAT, provides supervision to staff with limited permits until their hours are completed.
• Participates in the orientation process for new departmental hires.
• Provides inservices and education to staff, families, and residents.
• Coordinates with Marketing Department on promotional opportunities (pictures, videos, brochures)
• Maintain clinical notes in medical records in a timely fashion, keep daily statistics, prepare/maintain monthly calendar of activities/events.
• Adheres to all RNH policies and procedures relevant to performing job duties, including infection control.
• Fosters therapeutic atmosphere, including decorating units and therapeutic support spaces.
• Provide complementary therapies as trained and when appropriate (Reiki, massage, Acutonics, etc..)
• Facilitates family virtual visits and supervises in-person visitation when needed.
• Provides coverage for educational programming.
• All other duties as requested.

Qualifications
Education:

• Master's Degree in Music Therapy, required.
• Must have or be eligible for certification for respective discipline and a NYS Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) or LCAT limited permit.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of recent experience at a working with children or adolescents in a hospital or education setting. Must be able to produce required medical/clinical documentation, including MDS and CCP, preferred.
• Training in working with special needs and young adult populations, preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to read, write and interpret documents.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and/or co-workers.
• Must be trained in and knowledgeable of all Kingsbrook/Rutland policies and procedures pertaining to hazardous waste and hazardous materials and maintain qualifications applicable to assigned work.
• Other: Knowledge of all codes and demonstrate understanding.

License, Certifications:

• Must be board certified and a Licensed Creative Art Therapist.

Physical Requirements :

• Position requires prolonged periods of sitting,standing, reaching, walking throughout the working day.
• Position will be required to stoop, bend, lift, and carry items weighing up to 75 pounds.
• May be required to handle reasonably heavy weights across distances.
• May be required to handle/assist in lifting patients onto/out of exam beds/procedure stations.
• Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue, but potential for exposure.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (KJMC).
KJMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.