Creative Arts Therapist - San Mateo Medical Center (Open & Promotional)

County of San Mateo•San Mateo, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

San Mateo County Health - San Mateo Medical Center is seeking a qualified and compassionate Creative Arts and Recreation Therapist to develop, coordinate, and deliver evidence-based creative arts therapy services for patients across a variety of healthcare settings. This position provides therapeutic interventions that support patients' emotional, cognitive, physical, and social well-being through music and other creative arts modalities as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team. The Creative Arts and Recreation Therapist will assess patient needs, develop individualized treatment plans, facilitate therapeutic group and individual sessions, and contribute to comprehensive patient care. This role serves diverse patient populations ranging from acute care, behavioral health, long-term care, and specialty treatment settings including inpatient and outpatient. The current vacancy is a regular, full-time position. The assigned schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with potential holiday coverage as needed. The schedule may be adjusted based on departmental operational needs. The ideal candidate is a compassionate, patient-centered clinician with strong therapeutic skills and experience working with adult and/or geriatric populations in healthcare or clinical environments. They are comfortable supporting patients with complex medical, cognitive, psychiatric, and behavioral health needs and can tailor interventions to individuals with varying levels of functioning.

Requirements

At least two years of hands-on therapeutic experience in a healthcare, behavioral health, long-term care, or comparable clinical setting.
A strong background in music therapy, creative arts therapy, recreation therapy, therapeutic activities, or a closely related field.
Experience working with adults and/or older adults, particularly individuals with medically complex conditions, dementia, cognitive impairment, psychiatric conditions, or behavioral health needs.
Experience conducting patient assessments; establishing treatment goals; implementing therapeutic interventions; and evaluating patient outcomes.
Experience facilitating both individual and group therapeutic sessions.
Ability to modify activities for patients with physical, cognitive, communication, emotional, sensory, or behavioral limitations.
Strong clinical documentation, report-writing, and electronic health record skills; experience using Epic is highly desirable.
Ability to collaborate effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Sound clinical judgment, initiative, accountability, and the ability to navigate crucial or difficult conversations constructively.
Flexibility to adjust priorities and provide services across assigned units based on patient and operational needs.
Ability to work independently while maintaining a high standard of patient care, professionalism, and communication.
Knowledge of: Principles, procedures, techniques, trends and literature of rehabilitation services.
Knowledge of: Special techniques of creative arts therapies, including those relating to mental disabilities.
Knowledge of: Scope and activities of private and public health and welfare agencies.
Knowledge of: Characteristics of mental, emotional and developmental disorders.
Knowledge of: Current trends in mental health, public health, and public welfare.
Knowledge of: Federal and state programs in mental health, public health, and public welfare.
Knowledge of: Creative arts therapy materials, tools and processes used in providing therapy services to psychiatric, physically disabled and geriatric patients.
Knowledge of: Physical and psychological problems of geriatric, physically disabled, psychiatric and medical patients.
Knowledge of: Behavioral disorders and theories of group management.
Skill/Ability to: Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of persons in therapy.
Skill/Ability to: Secure accurate clinical data and record such data systematically.
Skill/Ability to: Work with patients with communications dysfunctions.
Skill/Ability to: Write clear, accurate and concise reports.
Skill/Ability to: Interpret statistical data.
Skill/Ability to: Supervise, instruct and lead creative arts therapy activities.
Skill/Ability to: Integrate creative arts therapy activities with other medical and institutional programs.
Skill/Ability to: Work effectively with volunteers.
Skill/Ability to: Discuss patient activities and create interest and support for them with members of the community.
Skill/Ability to: Work without close supervision.
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.
Option 1 Art: Eligibility for or registration with the American Art Therapy Association.
Option 2 Dance: Eligibility for or registration with the American Dance Therapy Association.
Option 3 Drama: Eligibility for or registration with the National Association for Drama Therapy.
Option 4 Music: Eligibility for or registration with the National Association of Music Therapy or equivalent professional organization.
Option 5 Recreation: Eligibility for or registration with the National Association of Therapeutic Recreation or California Therapeutic Recreation Society.
Experience (options 4 and 5): Two years of post-baccalaureate experience as a therapist.
Possession of a Certificate of completion for a course in Basic Life Support as approved by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association; or must be obtained within six months of appointment.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in Music Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, Recreation Therapy, or a closely related field.
Certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).
Advanced specialty certifications relevant to music therapy, creative arts therapy, recreation therapy, geriatric care, dementia care, or behavioral health.
Experience using Epic or another electronic health record system.
Experience providing therapeutic services in long-term care, inpatient psychiatric, acute care, outpatient, or other healthcare settings.
Individuals assigned to Canyon Oaks Youth Center, must have the ability to complete 40 hours of mandated training annually.

Responsibilities

Evaluate needs and interests of patients; define creative arts therapy goals; and plan individual therapy programs.
Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings, case conferences and unit rounds to discuss patients' progress and coordinate creative arts therapy with other services.
Supervise and conduct a variety of individual and group therapeutic activities.
Lead adult therapy groups.
Keep records and prepare reports.
Order supplies and equipment.
Supervise creative arts therapy interns.
Perform related duties as assigned.