Recreation Therapy Assistant

Status: Temporary Full-time

Location: St. Catharines, Ontario

Open Date: July 8, 2025

Closing Date: July 22, 2025

The Recreation Therapist Assistant, under the direction of a Recreation Therapist, directly supports the participation of children and youth with disabilities in recreation and leisure activities to enhance quality of life, participation, and therapeutic outcomes. The Recreation Therapist Assistant (RTA) achieves these outcomes by planning and leading a variety of recreation activities for children and youth with a variety of developmental, physical and communicative challenges, age birth-18, and their families. The RTA leverages child and family strengths to overcome barriers to participation within activities that match the child/families interests and goals. This position reports to the Manager, Clinical Services and is a one-year contract.

Some key responsibilities include:

_ Treatment planning: _Assist in preparing a child's intervention plan in order to target the goals outlined by a Recreation Therapist. This may include selecting activities, creating, organizing and preparing materials, observing assessments, researching therapy ideas or equipment information, attending meetings, scheduling appointments.
_ Intervention: _Carry out intervention based on goals outlined by the Recreation Therapist. Service delivery models may include direct or group interventions, home programs, or parent training sessions. Intervention may take place in a variety of sites (child's home, Centre site(s), outdoor community locations, private or public community facilities). Photocopying, filing, mailing, and faxing
_ Reporting/Record Keeping _ : Keep the Recreation Therapist, family, and other team members informed regarding child's progress and performance both verbally and in the child's electronic health record. This includes scheduling and session notes capturing progress/responses to activities, participation, strengths and barriers, health changes, and other relevant information.
_ Centre Therapy Material and Equipment: _Maintain inventory and organization of recreation therapy materials/equipment. Ensure all equipment used is safe, developmentally appropriate, and in working order. Resolve broken/missing equipment issues. Source and/or create materials and equipment necessary to fulfill program needs.
_ Recreation Equipment Loans: _Oversee & carry-out processes for family loans of adapted Recreation Equipment
_ Registration and Scheduling: _ Receive and process registrations for open-registration recreational activities, including obtaining information about the child and family necessary to ensure safe participation and appropriate fit for activities.
_ Presentations: _Deliver presentations co-developed with the Recreation Therapist to a variety of audiences including internal staff and community partners. Content may include community recreational programming, Centre recreation programming, andbest practices for inclusion and adapted recreation. May include representing the Centre at community events related to children's services or recreational services.
_ Pool Supervision: _Schedule and supervise open-registration swim sessions at the Centre's "Class B" pool, following the Centre's pool policies and pool supervision training program.

Health and Safety

The Recreation Therapist Assistant will comply with the duties assigned to Workers as per Section 28 of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Accountability and Freedom to Act:

The incumbent has latitude for discretion within practices and procedures covered by precedents, Centre policy and procedure manuals and supervisory review.

Key Relationships:

The Recreation Therapist Assistant is concerned with the effectiveness of all relationships that affect the Centre. The following are particularly significant to the position:

_ External _

Children and youth, and their families and other caregivers
Staff of other agencies
Community program leaders

_ Internal _

Clinical managers and staff
Volunteers and students

Performance Factors:

In assessing the performance of an incumbent in this position, the following factors will be utilized as appropriate:

Workload
Clinical outcomes
Documentation
Relationships
Other factors as determined jointly by the incumbent and the manager

Position Specifications:

_ Education: _

The minimum specifications for an incumbent will include one of the following:

Recreation Therapy Diploma
Child and Youth Studies Degree (or related degree)

Additional certifications or training in Therapeutic Recreation or Child Development would be an asset.

Current National Lifeguard Certification and/or Aquatics Instructor certifications an asset.

_ Knowledge/Skills: _

Knowledge of recreational therapy principles and activities that promote child development and therapeutic progress.
Knowledge of accessibility and inclusion practices.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially with children and families
The ability to effectively lead diverse groups of learners
Ability to adapt activities based on each child's abilities, preferences, and therapeutic goals.
Creative and resourceful approach to engaging children in fun and meaningful activities.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Sufficient computer literacy to produce letters and reports, enter work and caseload data, access general work applications such as electronic health records, virtual care

Other:

Access to a vehicle and possession of a driver's license valid for the province of Ontario is required
A current criminal reference check for vulnerable populations
CPR certification
Evidence of non-violent crisis intervention training
Ability to work multiple evenings per week as well as Saturdays and demonstrate flexibility in scheduling on a week-to-week basis to meet client and seasonal programming needs.
This position requires the candidate to:
Be physically active for long periods with children without being tired or out of breath
Push, lift, pull, or carry heavy objects such as adapted recreation equipment
Be on the floor, twisting, turning and lifting children at times; assist children and youth in transferring in and out of wheelchairs, walkers, bikes, and lifts; supporting children and youth in various positions to participate safely in activities
Be physically able to respond in an emergency situation including supporting a child or adult in the therapy pool and providing first aid and CPR
Be comfortable supervising pool sessions and working with children in an aquatic environment
Previous experience working with children in a therapeutic, recreational, or healthcare setting is an asset.
Bilingualism is an asset

_ Why Join Us? _

We provide a total rewards package that supports your well-being, and have a culture that supports and encourages continuous professional development and growth.
Provide a competitive hiring range of $44,700.00 - $50,797.00 commensurate with experience.
Participation in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP) from day one of employment with us, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance program.
Employee wellbeing initiatives and programs
Inclusive environment that allows everyone to feel welcomed and part of a dedicated team
Work life balance with flexible schedules, summer hours, paid sick days etc. Social events throughout the year, it's not just work!

To pursue this career opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to

We will be reviewing candidate submissions as they are received and move forward with interviews. Early submission is encouraged.

The Niagara Children's Centre is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodation is available under the _Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act_ (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.

The Niagara Children's Centre is a unionized environment.

We thank all those who apply but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. The selected candidate will be required to participate in a Criminal Background Check.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: $22.93-$26.05 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:
Company pension
Employee assistance program
On-site parking

Application question(s):
Do you have a Diploma in Recreation Therapy?
Do you have a Degree in Child & Youth Studies?

Licence/Certification:
National Lifeguard Certification (preferred)
Aquatic Instructor Certification (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-07-22