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Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
United States, Michigan, Grand Rapids
235 Wealthy Street Southeast (Show on map)
Oct 09, 2025
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Mission Statement

Restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation.

Employment Value Proposition

At Mary Free Bed, we take pride in our values-based culture:

  • Focus on Patient Care. A selfless drive to serve and heal connects all MFB employees.

  • Clinical Variety and Challenge. An inter-disciplinary approach and a top team of professionals create ever-changing opportunities and activities.

  • Family Culture. We offer the stability of a large organization while nurturing the family/team atmosphere of a small organization.

  • Trust in Each Other. Each employee knows that co-workers can be trusted to make the right decision for our family, patients, staff, and community.

  • A Proud Tradition. Years of dedicated, quality service to our patients and community have yielded a reputation that fills our employees with pride.

Age Specific Responsibility

Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in assigned department. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures.

Summary

Responsible for patient evaluation, programming, and documentation. Keeps treatment skills upgraded through continuing education.

Essential Job Responsibilities

  • Provides patient care.

  • Evaluates patients' premorbid and current leisure functioning.

  • Determines individual goals and objectives, in agreement with patient and/or family.

  • Develops, implements, and monitors treatment plan according to the needs of the patient.

  • Plans, conducts, and coordinates therapeutic recreation services to address patients' treatment plans and developmental levels with age-appropriate activities. Services are to include community activities, small and large group programs, morning, afternoon, evening and weekend programs, passive to active activities, individual services, and co-therapy programs. Services are to include families and siblings as appropriate.

  • Adapts activities, equipment as necessary.

  • Documents patient's status and progress through initial evaluation, progress notes, and discharge summary according to established time standards.

  • Communicates with others to integrate therapeutic recreation treatment in optimizing total patient care.

  • Participates in conferences/discussions and exchange of written records with other interdisciplinary team members to integrate therapeutic recreation treatment plan.

  • Instructs the patient and the family in therapeutic recreation procedures as part of the home program. Provides written instructions as necessary.

  • Instructs the visiting public, medical students, physicians, and other professionals in the methods of and objectives in area of expertise.

  • May participate in program development.

  • May provide supervision of students within guidelines of therapeutic recreation student program.

  • Attends various meetings as designated.

  • Functions as a patient advocate and maintains patient confidentiality.

  • We'll embrace all people by:

Treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Opening more doors to opportunity for others to succeed.

Growing talent and people.

Ensuring a welcoming experience for all we serve, regardless of origin, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

Taking action against discrimination.

Honoring our differences and how we collaborate.

Educating staff, patients and the communities we care for.

Restoring hope and freedom, together.

Customer Service Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement

Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

  • B.A. or B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation.

  • Registered with NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or eligible within one year of employment.

  • Valid Michigan driver's license with no restrictions affecting ability to drive vehicles.

  • Possesses and maintains CPR certification.

  • Demonstrates leadership and effective communication skills, ability to relate well with people, sensitivity to patient needs

Preferred Job Qualifications

  • Experience or knowledge of adapting equipment and leisure education.

  • Membership in ATRA/NCTRC.

  • Candidates do not need to have WSI certification

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification

Levels:

  • None (No specific requirements)

  • Occasionally (Less than 1/3)

  • Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)

  • Majority (More than 2/3)

Remain in a stationary position: Frequently

Traverse or move around work location: Frequently

Use keyboard: None

Operate or use department specific equipment: None

Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder: None

Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role: None

Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding: None

Transport, position, and/or exert force:

Up to 10 pounds: _____

Up to 25 pounds: _____

Up to 50 pounds: _____

Up to 75 pounds: _____

More than 100 pounds: Frequently

Other weight: Up to___ pounds _____

Other: None

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@maryfreebed.com.

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.

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