Certified Activity Therapist

Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital•Desoto, TX

About The Position

Job Summary The Activity Therapist, serving as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, is responsible for providing therapeutic recreational and activity services to adult, adolescent or child patients under DBHH care for emotional or substance abuse problems. The Activity Therapist will help to develop and implement therapeutic treatment plans demonstrating sound application of AT Theory and methodology and therapy sessions for individuals, families or groups. Essential Duties: Participates in the formulation of patient's treatment plans, including the establishment of treatment goals and objectives. Monitors and documents patient's progress in achieving treatment goals and objectives in group notes, as well as through individual and family sessions. Consult with doctors, case managers and nursing staff as needed to provide quality patient care. Contacts outpatient treatment providers as needed. Conducts individual therapy with patients. Conducts family therapy sessions for patients and family members. Provides process-oriented group therapies, as well as conducting educational and other didactic groups as assigned. Reports to community and/or state agencies regarding any patient issues as required by law. Represents hospital in legal proceedings as required. Complies with facility safety, infection control and security program. Supports facility internal and external customer service standards. Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

Requirements

Education - Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., recreational, music, art therapy, or occupational therapy) preferred
Experience - A minimum of 1 year of experience in a field relevant to the therapy specialty area or a combination of education and experience preferred.
Healthcare and inpatient psychiatric experience preferred.
Teaching or training experience is a plus.
Required Licenses – Certification or registration
Additional Requirements - Must obtain and maintain approved CPR certification as well as successful completion of Management of Aggressive Behavior training including restraint and seclusion policies prior to assuming patient care responsibility.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Excellent communication, assessment, evaluation, and interpretation skills.
Knowledge of psychiatric and addictive disease diagnoses and treatment; flexibility; teaching or training skills helpful; understanding of, or ability to understand, DSMIIIR methodology.
Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health.
Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health.
Must have basic PC skills that include a combination of working in a Windows Operating System and Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel and the ability to type a minimum of 30 words per minute.
Must have excellent communication skills and be a good listener with a pleasant demeanor that encourages and engages others.
Must be able to multi-task, and prioritize with strong time management skills.
Screening: Must successfully pass a background check, drug screen, and physical and be able to provide positive employment references.
Physical Demands: With or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand for a sustained period of time, walk, pull, lift, raise and move objects from position to position (up to 50 lbs), finger grasp; feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures; express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly; visually detect, determine, perceive, identify, recognize, judge, observe, inspect, assess; perceive the nature of sound with or without correction; perform repetitive motions of the wrist, hands, or fingers.

Nice To Haves

Healthcare and inpatient psychiatric experience preferred.
Teaching or training experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Participates in the formulation of patient's treatment plans, including the establishment of treatment goals and objectives.
Monitors and documents patient's progress in achieving treatment goals and objectives in group notes, as well as through individual and family sessions.
Consult with doctors, case managers and nursing staff as needed to provide quality patient care.
Contacts outpatient treatment providers as needed.
Conducts individual therapy with patients.
Conducts family therapy sessions for patients and family members.
Provides process-oriented group therapies, as well as conducting educational and other didactic groups as assigned.
Reports to community and/or state agencies regarding any patient issues as required by law.
Represents hospital in legal proceedings as required.
Complies with facility safety, infection control and security program.
Supports facility internal and external customer service standards.
Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards.