Recreational Therapist

Title: Recreational Therapist

State Role Title: 49231

Hiring Range: $51175 minimum negotiable based on relevant years of experience

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location:Southern Va Mental Health Inst

Agency Website: Type: General Public G

Job Duties

Come Join our team of Therapists that makes a difference! $3000 sign on bonus will be awarded to new hires to state service with a oneyear written agreement required.

Exceptional State Benefits Include: 13 paid holidays 12 paid vacation days 8 paid sick days and 4 paid family personal days per year; Family Medical Leave Short and Longterm disability coverage; Lowcost comprehensive Anthem or AETNA health insurance benefits; Group life and optional life insurance and Flexible Reimbursement accounts.

Other state benefits include:
Referral Bonuses
Virginia 529 College Savings Plan may be available for this role
State Employee Discounts and More!

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental services support individuals by promoting recovery selfdetermination and wellness in all aspects of life. DBHDS operates 12 facilities: 8 behavioral health facilities for adults a training center a psychiatric facility for children and adolescents a medical center and a center for behavioral rehabilitation. State facilities provide highly structured intensive services for individuals with mental illness intellectual disability or need substance use disorder services. DBHDS is committed to a life of possibilities for all Virginians. This position will work at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute a 72bed Joint Commission accredited State Mental Health Facility located in Danville VA.

This position will:
Facilitate and cofacilitate Therapeutic Recreation services with adults 18 to 64 years of age who have serious mental illness.
Provide comprehensive programming that offers opportunities for social engagement education and psychosocial skill building wellness education meaningful leisure experiences selfdirected recovery planning and community reintegration.
Plan and facilitate special events evening and weekend activities as needed.
Document on individuals attendance and progress according to hospital and departmental policy.
Serve as a member of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team and provide information regarding individuals response to treatment and revise accordingly.
Conduct assessments and develop treatment interventions collaborating with the treatment team.
Provide cross coverage as needed to all service areas.

This position requires:
Ability to develop plan organize and implement Therapeutic Recreation programs designed to promote psychological and physical health and wellbeing using principles of recovery and trauma informed care.
Proficient in verbal and written communication skills.
Awareness of safety and security procedures.
Ability to manage aggressive/ive individuals utilizing approved Therapeutic Options techniques.
Ability to plan and provide leisure/recreational programming on weekends holidays and evenings and be able to work irregular hours as assigned.
Ability to work effectively with various professional disciplines as a team member and consultant.
Ability to drive/operate and escort individuals by state cars vans and wheelchair equipped passenger van.
Ability to organize scheduling of tasks to utilize the Millennium health record to conduct quality assurance audits and prepare reports.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors Degree (graduate/undergraduate) from an accredited school of Recreation Therapy is required with completed internships.
Eligibility for National Therapeutic Recreation Specialist certification which will lead to CTRS status. Must be obtained within 12 months of employment.
Valid drivers license which must remain in valid and in good standing throughout employment.

Additional Considerations

Work experience/internship experience dealing with various types of mental disorders.
Experience as a Recreational Therapist in a psychiatric healthcare facility acute care longterm or correctional setting.
Veterans and people with National Service.
Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English.

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.

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 drug screen 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 atfor 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.

SVMHI uses Form I9 and EVerify in the verification of eligibility for employment.

SVMHI is a smoke and vapefree facility in all buildings and outside facility grounds.

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.