Recreational Therapist
About The Position
Central State Hospital is hiring a Recreational Therapist for its inpatient behavioral health team. The role designs and delivers evidence-based therapeutic recreation experiences to help adults build skills, rediscover strengths, and progress toward recovery and community reintegration. The therapist leads therapeutic groups, provides individualized interventions, collaborates with an interdisciplinary team, and contributes to a treatment environment grounded in dignity, hope, and trauma-informed care. The position includes planning hospital-wide events, developing treatment plans, documenting progress, conducting assessments, and supporting patients throughout their treatment. It is currently assigned to the Maximum-Security Unit, though assignments may change as operational priorities evolve. The usual schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with flexibility for occasional evening, weekend, and holiday coverage. Central State Hospital is a 277-bed Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric inpatient facility in Petersburg, Virginia. It operates the state’s only maximum-security treatment facility and also provides inpatient care to people from the community and the criminal justice system. Treatment may include medication, group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, court preparation, and substance-use treatment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a closely related field meeting academic and internship requirements for national certification.
- Eligibility at hire to obtain Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); obtain certification within one year of employment and maintain it as a condition of continued employment.
- Valid Virginia driver’s license.
- Knowledge of recreational therapy principles, psychiatric rehabilitation, behavioral health treatment best practices, recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care, group dynamics, therapeutic recreation interventions, and patient engagement strategies.
- Ability to conduct clinical assessments; develop individualized interventions; facilitate group and individual sessions with diverse patient populations; communicate and collaborate effectively; respond to behavioral changes and crises; maintain timely clinical documentation; and organize and prioritize work.
- Skill in therapeutic communication, conflict resolution, and verbal de-escalation.
Nice To Haves
- Current Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification.
- Experience providing recreational therapy in an inpatient behavioral health, psychiatric, or forensic setting.
- Understanding of CMS documentation requirements.
Responsibilities
- Design and deliver evidence-based therapeutic recreation experiences for adults receiving inpatient behavioral health care.
- Lead therapeutic groups and provide individualized therapeutic recreation interventions and sessions.
- Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments and develop individualized, evidence-based treatment interventions and plans.
- Plan hospital-wide events and support patients through their treatment and recovery.
- Document clinical progress accurately and on time in an electronic health record system.
- Collaborate with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, and community partners.
- Recognize and respond appropriately to behavioral changes and crisis situations.
- Use therapeutic communication, conflict resolution, and verbal de-escalation techniques.
- Organize and prioritize workload in a fast-paced clinical environment.
- Provide occasional evening, weekend, or holiday coverage as needed for patient care.
Benefits
- Health insurance plan options
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employer-paid group life insurance
- Virginia Retirement System retirement benefits
- Voluntary deferred compensation savings
- Paid holidays (the posting lists fourteen or more in one section and 13 in another)
- Annual leave
- Sick leave
- Family and personal leave
- Short-term and long-term disability benefits
- Employee Assistance Program services
- Employee wellness programs
- Employee discount programs
- Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, subject to individual circumstances
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
