Recreation Therapist - Mental Health Program FTC 2025 - 6435

Cambridge Memorial Hospital; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A community hospital in Waterloo Region is seeking a Recreation Therapist to develop and evaluate therapy programs. This role involves enhancing the well-being of mental health patients by providing individualized care plans and facilitating group therapy sessions. Ideal candidates should have a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies, strong communication skills, and experience in mental health settings. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Group benefits, including health and dental

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Career Development & Education Grant

Qualifications

• Registered with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (R/TRO) or eligible for registration.
• Experience with individuals experiencing severe mental illness.
• Knowledge in therapeutic recreation and psychoeducation programs.

Responsibilities

• Assess and plan individualized recreation therapy programs.
• Develop and lead psychoeducational and therapeutic recreation groups.
• Maintain documentation reflecting patient progress.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

University degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies

Post-graduate diploma in Therapeutic Recreation

Tools

Meditech

Job description

Overview

Join a hospital where everyone makes a difference! Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) is a thriving community hospital that proudly provides acute care services including: Emergency, Surgery, Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Health, Intensive Care, Mental Health, and Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Our vision is creating healthier communities together.

Our dedicated and skilled staff are passionate about providing outstanding patient‑centred care, and an exceptional patient experience to residents of the Waterloo Region and beyond.

Come be part of our vision as CMH leads in innovation and compassion! To learn more about CMH, please visit our website at www.cmh.org.

Why Should You Apply to CMH?

• Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• Group benefits, including health and dental, for full‑time employees
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Leadership and Quality Improvement Curriculum
• Career Development & Education Grant
• Wellness, & Wellbeing Program
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

Job Description

Salary Range: $39.118 - $45.415

Position Summary

The Recreation Therapist is responsible for assessing, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualized and group-based recreation therapy programs that address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of patients within the Mental Health Program. Working as an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team, the Recreation Therapist promotes recovery and enhances well‑being.

A key component of this role includes developing, facilitating, and evaluating psychoeducation and recreation therapy focused group programs designed to build coping skills, support emotional regulation, enhance motivation, and promote community reintegration. The Recreation Therapist also provides leisure education and connects individuals with community resources to support successful transitions to alternative levels of care or community living.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive leisure and functional assessments to identify patient’s strengths, needs, interests, and barriers to participation.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment and care plans that are client‑centred, evidence‑based, and outcome‑oriented.
• Design, lead, and evaluate a variety of psychoeducational and therapeutic recreation groups, including those focused on skill‑building, social engagement, wellness, mindfulness, coping strategies, and relapse prevention.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members to promote recovery, emotional well‑being, and social connection.
• Provide leisure education that supports patients in developing healthy lifestyle habits and engaging in meaningful recreation during and after hospitalization.
• Foster community partnerships and facilitate linkages with external recreation and wellness resources to promote continuity of care.
• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to case conferences, care planning, and discharge processes.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation reflecting patient progress, therapeutic outcomes, and program evaluation results.
• Support the integration of recreation therapy into the unit’s overall therapeutic milieu and participate in program development initiatives.
• Promote awareness of recreation therapy and its role in holistic mental health care among staff, students, and volunteers.

Skills and Qualifications

• University degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies or a post‑graduate diploma in Therapeutic Recreation required.
• Registered with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (R/TRO) or eligible for registration; professional membership in good standing required.
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness in an inpatient, outpatient, or community setting.
• Strong understanding of the impact of psychiatric diagnoses on leisure functioning and recovery.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and evaluate both individual and group‑based therapeutic recreation and psychoeducation programs.
• Experience in facilitating structured group interventions focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, social interaction, and recovery‑oriented goals.
• Experience and knowledge in exercise prescription and leading therapeutic or group exercise programs required.
• PIECES training and experience supporting individuals with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are considered assets.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within a self‑directed, multidisciplinary team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and documentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse patient populations.
• Computer literacy and familiarity with Meditech or similar electronic health record systems preferred.
• Evidence of ongoing professional education and commitment to best practices in therapeutic recreation.
• Regular attendance required.

We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our patients, staff and community from COVID‑19, subject to any accommodation required by applicable human rights legislation, Cambridge Memorial Hospital requires that all staff have received all required doses of a COVID‑19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.

The successful external applicant is required to provide the applicable criminal record check, as requested by Human Resources, in accordance with federal and provincial legislation. Valid criminal record checks are in original format and dated with two months from date of conditional offer from CMH.

CMH Inclusion Statement

At Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH), community matters to us. We acknowledge and are grateful for the opportunity to meet, work and offer healthcare on what is the traditional territories for the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and the Chinnonton.

We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace; one that generates belonging. We want a work culture where people are free to express their authentic selves and are able to bring their best daily. That includes a workplace that is free from violence, harassment and discrimination of any kind.

We welcome all applicants and encourage members of equity‑deserving groups including Indigenous and LGBTQ2SIA+ communities regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, neurodiversity or physical ability. We promise to ask if needed, and to provide reasonable accommodation to you during the recruitment and selection process to ensure an equitable experience.

To support all of us in this journey, Cambridge Memorial Hospital is an employee partner with the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) and provides access to all CMH members to CCDI resources and education. We encourage you to reflect upon our inclusive commitment to you as we welcome and encourage you to explore a promising future career at CMH.

Mari Iromoto Executive Champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Susan Toth, Director of Human Resources

We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) proudly integrates AI‑based technologies into its applicant screening process to enhance recruitment. These tools are designed to reduce bias and uphold fair hiring practices based on skills, education, and experience. CMH’s AI serves to assist, not replace, human decision‑making, with results audited to ensure quality and equity. This initiative reinforces the hospital’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring the best talent is selected while adhering to its core values.