ACTIVITY THERAPY TECHNICIAN7234F1 Pay Grade: 14 15 DEFINITION OF WORK Summary This is paraprofessional work assisting in the development and implementation of a therapeutic program of mental, physical and expressive activities for clients, patients or youth offenders in a state operated treatment center. Work involves responsibility for assisting professional staff by developing and implementing a program of activity, based upon a treatment plan or physician's referral, for the mental and physical improvement of clients or patients. Work includes planning and directing group and individual activities to obtain utmost participation by clients or patients. Work is primarily in one specialized area such as music, art, horticulture, occupational or work therapy, recreation, or leisure time activities. Standard Classification Factors Supervision Received - LEVEL C: "Under direction…" Employees at this level usually receive a general outline of the work to be performed and are generally free to develop their own sequences and methods within the scope of established policies. New, unusual, or complex work situations are almost always referred to a superior for advice. Work is periodically checked for progress and conformance to established policies and requirements. Difficulty - LEVEL B: Average… Where the employee is confronted with a variety of duties susceptible to different methods of solution which, in turn, places a correspondingly higher demand upon resourcefulness and concentration. Positions which require the analysis and evaluation of raw data and the rendering of conclusions would, in many instances, fall into this category. Complexity - LEVEL C: Work is of a standardized nature that may involve a variety of duties. Analytical thought becomes more important at this level due to increased data and changing situations. Tasks usually have several steps, some of which may not be directly related. Alternatives may exist for processes or methods to be used in solving problems. Workers at this level exercise a moderate amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by routine review and reporting to or consultation with supervisors. When guidelines exist at this level, they tend to be more complicated or technical in nature requiring careful interpretation. Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial. Contacts - LEVEL A: The purpose of the contact is to obtain, clarify, give or screen established factual information, regardless of the type (i.e., easily understood or technical) within a well-defined relationship. Normal communication skills are required. Physical Demands - LEVEL C: The work requires moderate physical exertion. Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible. Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL B: Involves functional leadership responsibility. As a "senior worker", performing essentially the same or similar work as those overseen, responsibility includes training, instructing, scheduling and reviewing. As a "project leader" may be responsible for a phase(s) of a single project which includes planning, coordinating and reviewing the work of others. This level may also involve limited administrative responsibility such as participating in the evaluation of work performance. Distinguishing Features Differs from the Activity Therapist class series which provides for professional level responsibility to assess clients' or patients' functioning level and select therapeutic activities. Differs from the Mental Retardation class series which provides for the active treatment of the mentally retarded. Differs from the Mental Health class series which provides for the care and treatment for the mentally ill or emotionally disturbed. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED Monitors, sets goals, and provides opportunity for patient or client to change behavior through specific tasks as well as creative experiences using one or more of the following modalities: arts and crafts, music, recreation, horticulture, work, occupational or leisure time activities. Assists Activity Therapists or Occupational Therapists in planning new activity projects for treatment programs. Participates in team meetings and patient or client staffings, recommends activities for scheduling, and contributes to the writing of the patient's/client's comprehensive treatment plan. Writes progress notes on assigned patients or clients. Attends case conferences and recommends modification or continuation of participation in activity program. Keeps a daily attendance record of all assigned patients. Teaches and directs volunteer workers in specific activity programs. Supervises adult clients or patients in work projects in vocational training programs; teaches the performance of specific tasks; maintains quality control of products; monitors clients' or patients' behavior and capabilities; participates in development, modification and implementation of individual program plans. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS Knowledge Knowledge of activity therapy or occupational therapy principles and techniques. Knowledge of the characteristics of mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, youth offenders, and/or physically handicapped persons. Knowledge of arts and crafts. Abilities *Ability to instruct clients/patients in creative activities. *Ability to stimulate client's/patients' interests in an activity. Ability to work effectively with other paraprofessional treatment staff, professional and administrative staff, and with volunteers. *Ability to make clear, concise oral and written reports. Ability to understand the level of patient's needs. *Ability to establish rapport with patients. *Ability to formulate appropriate activity programs. Ability to plan and direct the work of others. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Three months of experience in direct care. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency. Necessary Special Requirements: NC: 12/88 |