Description
Lead and oversee therapeutic recreation programs that use structured leisure activities to improve participants’ physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning. Direct staff and services, coordinate with interdisciplinary teams, ensure compliance and safety, and tailor interventions to individual goals and abilities across healthcare or community settings.
- • Enforce department policies, risk management, and safety standards for therapeutic activities.
- • Plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based therapeutic recreation programs.
- • Manage daily operations of the therapeutic recreation department.
- • Provide or coordinate first aid and emergency response; ensure staff certification.
- • Orient new patients and families to therapeutic recreation services and expectations.
- • Teach and model therapeutic techniques and safe use of adaptive equipment.
- • Monitor program outcomes and patient satisfaction; drive quality improvement.
- • Maintain departmental schedules, timekeeping, inventories, and records.
- • Resolve participant concerns in collaboration with administration and clinical leaders.
- • Recruit, supervise, and mentor therapeutic recreation staff, interns, and volunteers.
- • Collaborate with physicians, nurses, therapy, and social work to integrate TR into care plans.
- • Schedule therapy spaces, transportation, and equipment.
- • Direct specialized programs such as aquatics therapy, adaptive sports, and creative arts.
- • Plan events, procure supplies, and oversee purchase and upkeep of therapy equipment and spaces.
- • Facilitate patient leadership, social skills, and community reintegration goals.
- • Serve as liaison between administration, community partners, and TR staff.
- • Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching and training.
- • Provide bedside or in-room TR sessions for patients with limited mobility.
- • Organize supervised community outings and reintegration activities.
- • Complete assessments to identify strengths, needs, and leisure interests.
- • Document assessments, goals, interventions, and progress in the EMR.
- • Develop individualized treatment goals and update care plans as needs change.
- • Ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., CMS, Joint Commission) and documentation standards.
- • Manage budgets, grants, and program metrics; prepare reports.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
