Recreation Therapist

Location: Royal Oak Village - Lacombe, AB

Position: Recreation Therapist - Temporary Full-Time

FTE: 1.0

Application Deadline: November 16, 2026

Key Accountabilities:

Resident Assessment

• Ensures the Therapeutic Recreation Assessments are completed for all Memory Care and Supportive Living residents on intake, annual, or as needed basis
• Contacts families and/or Power of Attorney during the assessment process for clarifications and further information

Recreation and Leisure Awareness

• Educate staff, residents, and family regarding the “7 Dimensions of Wellness” and the benefits of recreation and leisure participation
• Assist with the evaluation of Recreation Programs and Services at all sites
• Research best practices and innovative programs
• Participate in the creation of Program Plans

Care Conferences

• Communicate therapeutic outcomes at family and physician care conferences (it unable to attend pass information onto the Wellness Manager or Team Lead prior to conference)
• Prepare report; including statistics, resident participation records, updated care plan, and expected outcomes
• File updated report in resident chart/binder

Resident Integration

• Assists socially isolated residents with gradual integration into community programs of choice

Team Leadership and Communication

• The Recreation Therapist will provide leadership to the Recreation Coordinators in the capacity of programming expertise. They will guide and share knowledge when requested
• Care plans will be shared with the Recreation Coordinators to ensure an understanding of program procedures with individual residents
• Attend scheduled team meetings, ability to lead or organize when requested

Recreation Programming

• The Recreation Therapist engages in one-to-one programming, based on resident assessment
• Develops small group therapeutic programming for identified residents and trains the Recreation Coordinator to deliver and meet the outcomes of the resident care plan
• Provides ongoing contributions to the structuring and development of recreation departmental goals
• Maintains records of resident participation within the care plan
• Considers and applies program adaptations to ensure equal access for high acuity residents who would benefit, from the recreation program offered. This may involve extensive collaboration with Wellness Team.

Volunteers

• Manages the Community Volunteer Program
• Ensures Volunteer Application packages are available
• Develops “Job Descriptions” with the assistance of the Recreation Coordinators

Health and Safety

• Practices safety consciousness and maintains an organized and clean environment both in the office and in the activity areas
• Complies with safety regulations and policies. Ensures no undue risk beyond that associated with thoughtful program participation
• Reports unsafe conditions within the living and work environment; takes required action to decrease the risk of injury immediately and/or notifies the Executive Director/ Wellness Manager of the concern.

Budget Oversight

• Maintains the Therapeutic portion of the budget by completing month-end reconciliation and tracking spending
• Identifies and orders appropriate program supplies and equipment

Education and Development

• Be accountable for personal mandatory education and development; attend relevant workshops, seminars, and conferences. Will apply learning in the workplace and may be required to share knowledge gained at sponsored educational opportunities
• Identifies relevant opportunities for growth and skill-building by attending workshops and seminars
• Demonstrate commitment to learning new skills, methods, and ideas: broaden experience through research, work on projects and committees.
• Contributes 2x annually to the monthly newsletter

Job Specifications

The core competencies of the Recreation Therapist’s role consist of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Minimum Educational/Experience Requirements

• Post-secondary education required
• Diploma/Degree in Recreation studies or adapted Physical Education preferred
• In lieu of education, extensive work experience with seniors may be considered
• Experience with seniors and/or people with dementia and/or disabilities required
• Minimum of 1 year working in the area of recreation/activity programming
• Experience with palliative and hospice care an asset
• AFLCA Older adult certification an asset
• First Aid and CPR Certificate an asset

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to multi-task
• Exceptional time management skills, ability to prioritize
• Good judgment and ability to exercise discretion
• Motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks
• Ability to self-initiate and also work well as a team member
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Compassionate, courteous, and respectful
• Excellent observational skills and ability to determine urgency or reportable incidents

Personal Requirements

• Maintain a professional, but functional, appearance in dress and grooming
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and personal hygiene

Special Requirements

• Involves extensive standing, walking, bending, and lifting (up to 10kg is often required) – dress should reflect this
• Requires the ability to critically assess the needs and abilities of the residents
• Must own and properly register and insure own vehicle

Other Bona-Fide Occupational Requirements

A current and clear Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Search is required for all new site-based employees.

Disclaimer

This job description indicates representative responsibilities and specifications of the position only and should not be considered to necessarily represent all responsibilities and specifications of the position. The incumbent may perform other duties as assigned, which are not specified in this description. A review and update of this job description will take place at the yearly performance review.