Recreational Therapist

Title: Recreational Therapist

State Role Title: 49231

Hiring Range: $51175.00 to $70622.00; Pay to commensurate with experience.

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location:Central State Hospital

Agency Website: Type: General Public G

Job Duties

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870 when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property.

CSH maintains the only maximumsecurity treatment facility in the state 111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the persons individual needs recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication evidencebased group and individual therapy peer support psychosocial rehabilitation vocational training preparation for court and treatment for substance abuse.

Central State Hospital is recruiting for a Recreational Therapist whos responsibilities include but are not limited to client functional evaluations using modality specific assessments and observations and quality recreation therapy services via groups and 1:1 interventions to adults with serious mental illness 18 to 65 years of age who have serious mental illness addiction issues physical and intellectual deficits and who have experienced trauma. Planning facilitating and cofacilitating of day evening weekend special events and holiday therapeutic interventions that are functionally based promote hope and recovery and that assist our clients return to his/her highest level of functioning in order to be successful in the community. To document on clients attendance and progress according to hospital and department policy. To serve as an active member of the Interdisciplinary treatment team and provide information regarding clients response to treatment and revise approaches accordingly based on current functional level. To provide cross coverage as needed to all service areas.

Minimum Qualifications

Degree (graduate or undergraduate) from an accredited school of Recreation Therapy with completed internships is REQUIRED.
Eligibility for National Therapeutic Recreation Specialist certification which will lead to CTRS status within the first year of employment is REQUIRED.
A valid Virginia drivers license is REQUIRED.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities Required to Successfully Perform the Job:

Ability to develop plan organize and implement recreational therapy 1:1 interventions and groups that are designed to promote improvements in cognition psychological social physical health and wellbeing using principles of recovery and trauma informed care.
Proficient in verbal and written communication skills
Ability to use Microsoft Office and other identified computer software successfully.
Awareness of safety and security procedures.
Ability to manage aggressive/ive clients utilizing approved Therapeutic Options (TO) techniques.
Knowledge of the purpose of active treatment.
Ability to drive/operate and escort clients by state cars wheelchair equipped bus and 15 passenger van.
Ability to complete Rehabilitation Assessments recommend treatment goals and objectives and rehabilitative interventions and report progress accordingly.
Ability to plan and provide leisure/recreational programming on weekends holidays and evenings. Additional duties will include (but are not limited to) participating in special unit activities (unit/department/hospital) and working irregular work week and hours when necessary.

Additional Considerations

Work/internship experience working with adults with mental illness intellectual deficits and physical disabilities is PREFERRED.
Experienced in evaluating establishing treatment intervention and assessing effectiveness of treatment interventions is PREFERRED.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Central State Hospital only accepts online applications via RMS. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed emailed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five 5 business days.


An extensive criminal history background investigation not limited to employment references drug testing and EVerify will be conducted.

Central State Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of four health insurance plans paid life insurance and retirement plans 12 paid holidays annual and sick leave.

Applicants must list all relevant experience that you wish to be considered for this position. Applicants will be provided confirmation of receipt when your application and/or resume is submitted. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position. A fingerprintbased criminal history check and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code 37.2314 and 37.2408.1 the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers persons who have been convicted of specific barrier crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending barrier charges.

DBHDS facilities are no longer required to ensure that all staff members are vaccinated against COVID19. However facilities encourage and educate staff on the benefits and continue to offer COVID19 vaccination programs to staff residents/clients. Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated proof of vaccination) during the preemployment process. If you have any questions contact the Office of Human Resources.

Commonwealths Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: or call DARS at.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at
for assistance.

DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race sex color national origin religion sexual orientation gender identity age veteran status political affiliation genetics or disability. Minorities Individuals with Disabilities Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). ServiceConnected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022 February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.