Recreation Therapist/Program Manager
The Recreation Therapist/Program Manager is responsible for assessing residents' needs for planning activities, delivering activities along with Recreation Activity Assistants as well as coordinating, and evaluating individualized and group interventions that support physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and social well-being within the long-term care and retirement living environment.
The Leamington Mennonite Home is a faith-based long-term care and retirement community founded in 1965 to support seniors in aging with dignity. Today, we serve approximately 275 residents across a range of housing and care options.
Our mission is ALWAYS Residents First, guided by compassion, respect, and community. This mission shapes how we care for residents and how we support our staff.
If you are a positive professional, reliable, someone who takes pride in your work, and is a team player we invite you to apply.
Working collaboratively as part of the interdisciplinary team, the Recreation Therapist uses meaningful leisure and recreation to maintain abilities, reduce isolation, support responsive behaviour strategies, and enhance residents' quality of life, dignity, independence, choice, and social connection.
The Recreation Therapist is a working manager who personally provides resident programming while also providing supervision to recreation staff, students, and volunteers and supporting departmental operations and organizational goals.
The Recreational Therapist reports directly to the Director of Nursing and Personal Care.
Key Responsibilities
Resident Assessment, Planning, and Therapeutic Recreation
· Complete initial and ongoing assessments of residents' recreational and leisure interests, strengths, physical and functional abilities, cognitive status, emotional and social needs, cultural background, spiritual preferences, and participation barriers. Align programming to resident personhoods created by the LMH Social Worker.
· Obtain input from residents and, where appropriate, their decision-makers, families, and members of the interdisciplinary team when identifying recreation goals and developing interventions.
· Develop, document, implement, and evaluate individualized therapeutic recreation plans with meaningful and measurable goals, interventions, and expected outcomes.
· Deliver along with the department staff one to one activities, small-group, and larger-group programs while providing operational leadership to the staff.
· Develop an implement individualized and small-group prgorams for residents who are unable, unwilling, or unlikely to benefit from larger group programs, including residents who are socially withdrawn, bedbound, palliative, or living with advanced dementia.
· Monitor and document residents' responses, participation, progress, and outcomes, and modify interventions and care plans as residents' needs, abilities, goals, and preferences change.
· Design and adapt interventions that promote cognitive stimulation, emotional expression, social connection, meaningful movement, maintenance of function, and prevention of unnecessary decline.
· Support responsive behaviour strategies and non-pharmacological interventions in collaboration with nursing, Behavioural Support Staff, rehabilitation, families, and other interdisciplinary team members.
· Participate in interdisciplinary assessments, care planning, resident and family conferences, and other processes related to residents' goals and quality of life.
· Encourage resident participation while respecting each resident's right to make choices, decline participation, take reasonable risks, and maintain dignity, independence, and inclusion. Must be able to motivate others positively.
· Plan, deliver, and evaluate a varied range of therapeutic modalities, which may include creative arts, music, sensory and reminiscence activities, cognitive programming, meaningful movement, gardening, intergenerational programs, celebrations, special events, outings, and community-based activities.
· Ensure recreation services reflect residents' assessed needs and preferences and align with organizational values, resident-centred care principles, applicable legislation, professional standards, and evidence-informed practice.
Leadership and Supervision
· Provide day-to-day supervision, direction, coaching, and support to recreation staff, students, and volunteers.
· Coordinate daily assignments and assist with departmental scheduling to support consistent program delivery across the long-term care and retirement living areas.
· Orient and train recreation staff, students, and volunteers on departmental practices and resident needs.
· Monitor the quality, accessibility, variety, participation, and therapeutic effectiveness of recreation services and identify opportunities for improvement.
· Address routine operational concerns and support employee performance-management processes in collaboration with the Director of Nursing and Personal Care.
· Participate in recruitment, selection, and onboarding activities for recreation staff as required.
· Foster a respectful, accountable, collaborative, and positive team environment.
Documentation and Administrative Responsibilities
· Complete assessments, therapeutic recreation plans, care-plan documentation, progress notes, attendance records, outcome evaluations, and departmental reports accurately and within required timelines. Must use Welbi the online management tool.
· Maintain recreation calendars, schedules, resident and family communication materials, and program records.
· Collect and review participation, feedback, and outcome information to evaluate program effectiveness and guide departmental planning.
· Assist with inventory management, supply ordering, purchasing, and monitoring the recreation budget.
· Develop and maintain community partnerships and coordinate entertainers, volunteers, outings, and special events.
· Support quality-improvement initiatives, audits, inspections, accreditation activities, and corrective action plans.
· Maintain confidentiality and comply with privacy legislation and organizational policies.
Health and Safety
· Must have resident safety as a priority.
· Work in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, infection prevention and control practices, safe resident-handling expectations, and organizational health and safety policies.
· Assess program-related risks and ensure activities, equipment, supplies, transportation, and program areas are safe, accessible, appropriate, and well organized.
· Report hazards, incidents, injuries, near misses, and resident or staff concerns promptly.
· Respond appropriately to emergencies and participate in required emergency preparedness activities.
Qualifications
· Degree or advanced diploma in Recreation Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or an equivalent field directly related to therapeutic recreation is preferred.
· Related post-secondary education in Kinesiology, Human Kinetics, Gerontology, Social Work, Psychology or another related field will also be considered.
· Relevant education, training, and experience working with older adults may be considered in combination.
· Registration or eligibility for registration with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) or an equivalent professional association is preferred.
· Minimum of two years' experience in long-term care, retirement living, geriatric care, or a related healthcare environment is preferred.
· Previous leadership or supervisory experience is considered an asset.
· Demonstrated knowledge of dementia care, responsive behaviours, restorative and functional programming, palliative approaches, resident-centred care, and therapeutic recreation practice.
· Ability to complete assessments, establish measurable goals, evaluate outcomes, and prepare clear professional documentation.
· Strong interpersonal, communication, leadership, organizational, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
· Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team environment.
· Proficient computer skills and experience with electronic documentation systems.
· Current CPR and First Aid certification is preferred.
Working Conditions
· Work is performed within long-term care and retirement living environments.
· The position requires regular direct interaction with residents, including residents living with cognitive impairment, responsive behaviours, complex health conditions, or receiving palliative care.
· Frequent interaction with residents, families, staff, volunteers, students, vendors, and community partners.
· Occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required for resident programs, events, and operational needs.
· The position requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, reach, lift and carry program materials, push equipment or wheelchairs as appropriate, and actively participate in recreation programming.
Benefits
·Optional enrollment in Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP). At the Leamington Mennonite Home, we're committed to supporting our employees both today and tomorrow. Eligible employees can participate in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)—one of Canada's leading defined benefit pension plans. With contributions from both you and LMH, HOOPP provides a reliable source of retirement income, allowing you to focus on what matters most while planning confidently for the future.
·Vacation pay and statutory entitlements
·Meaningful work where you make a difference every day.
· Full time permanent position
· Monday-Friday 8am-4pm, occasional afternoon and weekend shifts depending on planned activities and need to manage Recreation Activity Assistants.
Pay: $60,000.00-$70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)
Experience:
- Senior care: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
