The Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) who partners with a trained facility dog and the interdisciplinary clinical team to incorporate animal-assisted intervention into patients’ plans of care to meet clinical goals. This position plans, coordinates, and facilitates therapeutic recreation services and activity-based interventions designed to support the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being of pediatric patients and their families in the hospital setting.

• Facility Dog Handling & Animal Assisted Intervention
  
  • Serves as the primary handler of a hospital-owned facility dog, maintaining safety, care, health, grooming, and behavior of the dog in accordance with hospital and department policies.
  • Partners with the treating clinical team in the assigned setting (e.g., Providers; nursing; rehab therapists; psychology; social work; child life) to design and deliver animal-assisted interventions that support each patient's established treatment goals.
  • Assesses both the facility dog and the patient throughout each interaction for signs of stress, fatigue, or discomfort, and adjusts or discontinues the intervention as needed to protect the safety and wellbeing of both.
  • Maintains the safety of the facility dog, patients, families, and staff during all interventions, including in high-stimulation inpatient/bedside and outpatient clinic environments.
  • Coordinates supply orders, veterinary care, and grooming services in accordance with hospital/department guidelines and policies.
  • Represents the facility dog program in new employee orientation, hospital marketing, media, and community engagement activities as assigned.
  • Trains, orients, and supervises Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) volunteer handlers as assigned by AAT Supervisor.
• Recreational Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning
  
  • Applies recreational therapy assessment methods to evaluate patients' physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and leisure functioning as it relates to animal-assisted intervention goals.
  • Develops individualized and group treatment plans that integrate the facility dog into therapeutic recreation activities designed to complement the goals set by the patients’ treating clinical teams.
  • Establishes and maintains a therapeutic rapport with patients and families to support engagement in animal-assisted treatment activities.
  • Continually evaluates and adjusts intervention plans based on patient progress and response.
  • Responds to crisis or acute situations calmly and effectively to maintain ongoing safety of patients, the facility dog, and others.
  • Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and communicates relevant observations to support coordinated patient care.
  • Documents assessment and intervention outcomes in accordance with hospital documentation standards.
  • Documents unusual occurrences, incidents, or safety concerns involving the facility dog or patients in the appropriate reporting format.
• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.
  

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Phoenix Children's will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies
• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

• We place children and families at the center of all we do
• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way
• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact
• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future
• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable