Skyland Trail, a nonprofit mental health residential treatment program for adults and adolescents in Atlanta, is seeking a LEAP Activity Counselor PRN

Scope:

The Activity Counselor works under the direction of the Recreational Therapist/Coordinator of LEAP program. This staff will provide therapeutic activities and outings out in the community for Skyland Trail clients as part of the LEAP/Social Club Program on weeknights and weekends.

Duties:

• Conduct, plan, and implement therapeutic interventions, activities, and outings and other appropriate groups as part of the LEAP/Social Club Program.
• Assist with LEAP Program development, including calendar development, evaluation of LEAP Program, maintaining on-going data of LEAP Program, purchasing supplies for program.
• To maintain safety, staff sets clear expectations to clients for all LEAP outings. They make a plan for the activity, stick to rules, monitor clients for possible warning signs, and maintain headcounts of clients on the outings.
• While facilitating programs, staff are responsible for supporting client needs, knowledge of clients individual treatment plans and helping them work on individual goals, social skills training, and reminding clients to use their skills when feeling dysregulated.
• Strong group leadership through development of quality lesson plans, facilitation techniques, and client engagement.
• Identify and support client needs and potential concerns/crisis and add additional clinical support, when needed.
• Oversee client safety and engagement during community outings, activities/lessons, use of equipment and exercise.
• Support other department and organization needs through collaboration, creation, and follow through.
• Professional development through participation in Mental Health seminars, weekly clinical supervision, and in-service opportunities.
• Mentor Adjunctive Therapy interns (and all interns as appropriate) through connection, teachable moments, feedback, and opportunities to learn and grow.
• Represent Adjunctive Therapies in clinical treatment meetings through clinical and relevant client observation, insight, and ideas to progress client recovery.
• Ability to timely and appropriately document client assessment, progress, concerns, and treatment recommendations.
• Facilitate one or more Therapeutic Recreation groups a week during Day Treatment, as needed.
• Facilitate a structured LEAP Orientation group to help new clients understand the LEAP Program.
• Supervise and assist LEAP volunteers and Recreation Therapy interns.
• Document LEAP activities/outings, attendance, participation level, time sheets, budget forms, and incident reports. Inform supervisor and primary counselors of any incidents that occur during LEAP hours.
• Drive facility van in a safe and responsible manner.
• Participate in the implementation of annual events; AITG, worship service, volunteer celebration, alumni celebration.
• Other duties assigned by Recreation Therapist/Coordinator of LEAP program.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of recreational therapy/activities
• Diagnostic skills, knowledge of mental illness and its treatment
• Documentation is clear and timely
• Customer service, effective written and verbal communication skills
• Physically able to lead activities
• Group leadership and individual therapy skills
• Safe driving record and skills, obtain CDL license (if required)
• Knowledge of safety, risk management, and emergency procedures, CPR/First Aid procedures
• Openness to change; forward thinking, flexibility

Qualifications:

• Prior experience in recreational therapy or other related fields
• Experience in working with psychiatric disorders
• Degree in Therapeutic Recreational or other related fields, preferred but not required