Recreation Therapist

State of Montana • Fremont, CA

37d • Onsite

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity as a Recreation Therapist at the Montana State Hospital.
The Montana State Hospital (MSH) in Warm Springs provides inpatient psychiatric treatment for adults with serious mental illness. MSH is the only public psychiatric hospital in Montana that serves people admitted from communities across the state.
Recreation Therapists help patients build resiliency and life skills. What that looks like is interviewing and observing patients to assess physical and mental status, capabilities, and interests, rehabilitation needs and plans appropriate interventions; designing and developing treatment programs and interventions addressing patients assessed needs; and developing treatment goals and evaluating patients progress toward goals and revises goals as needed.
Why Join DPHHS
Our mission at DPHHS is serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, well-being, and empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents.
The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation (15 days per year), sick leave (12 days per year), and holidays (11 per year), work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.

Requirements

• Knowledge of recreation therapy interventions and practices.
• Knowledge of psychology, human behavior, and development.
• Knowledge of individual and group therapy principles.
• Knowledge of recreational activities and related equipment.
• Knowledge of mental illness, chemical dependency, traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities; medical and physical disabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation preferred or related field.
• One year recreation therapist experience.
• Completion of approved recreation therapist internships may substitute for the one year of required experience.
• National Council for Therapeutic Recreation certification is required within one year of employment.

Responsibilities

• interviewing and observing patients to assess physical and mental status, capabilities, and interests
• rehabilitation needs and plans appropriate interventions
• designing and developing treatment programs and interventions addressing patients assessed needs
• developing treatment goals and evaluating patients progress toward goals and revises goals as needed

Benefits

• healthcare coverage
• retirement plans
• paid vacation (15 days per year)
• sick leave (12 days per year)
• holidays (11 per year)
• work/life balance
• eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• wide range of advancement opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees