Roles in Professional Activity/Recreation Service

GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation
and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

PERSONNEL:
"Roles in Professional Activity/Recreation Service"

by Mr. Michael S. Watters, MS, CTRS, ACC, President
PR&L: Play, Recreation and Leisure Management, USA

Roles and Functions. These are short descriptions of the Activity/Recreation Professionals roles and functions. The aim to provide a brief introduction to the field to administrators, consumers, families and parents, and other professionals. These are not precise, universal, nor adopted by any one profession. They are general titles and descriptors.

Activity/Recreation Program. In most facilities the Activity/Recreation Program provides activities/recreation 365 days a year. Activities are often provided concurrently (two to three activities during one time period). They are provided during the day, evenings, and throughout the weekend.

DIRECT SERVICE: Levels and Roles

I. Activity/Recreation Aide/Assistant Leader: Provides one-on-one activity and assist with small group leadership, preparation and documentation.

II. Activity/Recreation Leader: Provides leadership and direction for small to large groups of residents in health care. Prepares the equipment, supplies, and materials to conduct activities and documents residents responses.

III.A. Activity/Recreation Specialist, Activity: Aquatics, Art, Crafts, Dance, Drama, Fitness, Horticulturist, Hobby, Industrial, Music, Poetry, Recreation, Social Service Coordination, Volunteer Coordination, etc., possibly a therapist; provides directions, leadership in a specific area of training, and possible interventions as needed. The specialist may be on staff or may sub-contractor service. This person may have a dual professional affiliation with the specialty represented.

III.B. Activity/Recreation Specialist, Special Population: Serves Alzheimer's unit, MR/DD, Mental Health, Children, Aids, Subacute, Individual (one on one) and other special conditions.

III.C. The Activity/Recreation Professional, Special Setting: Provides service in a variety of settings such as: nursing facilities, assisted living, retirement living, adult day health, subacute, residential, senior centers, and home health services.

IV. Activity/Recreation Coordinator/Supervisor: Conducts large groups, special events, supervises leaders, leader assistants, and volunteers, and relates to community resources. Documents assessments, care plans, and progress summaries. Attends meetings for documentation (care plans and services provision) Activity Coordinator/Director may be the department/service head depending on the size and type of the facility.

V. Activity/Recreation Director/Manager: Provides administration, management, supervision and direction for the Activity/Recreation Department/Service, overseeing staff, volunteers, and working with other services to ensure proper coordination throughout the facility.

INDIRECT SERVICE: Special Roles

Activity Consultant: Provides Activity/Recreation Deferment/Service review, assessments and recommends specific corrections for standards, systems, policies, programs, and clinical interventions. Consultants provide innovative and current information on equipment, supplies, literature, and programming.

Activity Professional: Education, Training, Research/Evaluation: Teachers and/or researchers who provide the pre-service education and in-service training and education to meet government and/or professional required continuing education for basic competence, certification, re-certification, etc. There personnel are usually certified by the national organizations or state agencies.

Activity Professional: Vendors: Independent contractors, business
connected, or business owners, who produce or promote activity related
products, materials, and publications to the Activity/Recreation service field. These individuals maybe authors, inventors, consultants, and specialists.

Activity/Recreation Professional: Activist. Throughout the United States at the national and state levels and within each state, there are Activity/Recreation Professional Activists who extend their work life in service to patients/clients by working diligently with professional national organizations and their state association. They work on pre-service education, in-service training and continuing education, ethics, standards of practice, certification, research, professional publications, professional information and referral and legislation

Activity/Recreation Association Professionals. State and national professional association executives.
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GLOBAL VISION PROJECT:
Global Vision of Rehabilitation and Recreation
for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century
A JOINT PROJECT BY:
Disability International Foundation AND
Special Recreation for disABLED International

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