Activities Specialist

State-of-Iow; Woodward (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Discount Programs

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Woodward Resource Center, is seeking an Activities Specialist to join our Leisure Department on a full-time basis with a flexible schedule and opportunity for advancement. If you're passionate about making a difference, this could be the perfect job for you.

You will plan and coordinate leisure programs, monitor client participation in the community, and teach daily living, communication, and social skills as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Background check required
• Ability to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities as part of an interdisciplinary team

Responsibilities

• Direct, plan, and coordinate general and specific leisure programs for individuals and small groups
• Monitor ongoing client participation in the community to support growth and skill development
• Teach daily living, communication, leisure, and vocational skills following procedures and modeling pro-social behavior
• Contribute to active treatment plans and coordinate with other team members for goal development
• Attend department meetings and coordinate activities with other Activities Specialists
• Maintain supplies and review requests, manage inventories for leisure materials
• Prepare trips, manage budgets per person, and process receipts according to guidelines

Job description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Woodward Resource Center (WRC) is seeking an Activities Specialist to join our team! This is a full-time position with a non-fixed, variable schedule and opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. If you're passionate about making a difference and ready to take on a rewarding position, this could be the perfect job for you.

As an Activities Specialist, you'll play a pivotal role in our Leisure Department. As part of the WRC team, you'll:

• Direct, plan, and coordinate general and specific leisure programs and goals for one-on-one projects and small group programs to develop socialization, self-expression, new skills, and abilities.
• Monitor on-going participation of WRC clients in the community to ensure growth and skill development.
• Teach individuals daily living, communication, leisure, and vocational skills by following written procedures and modeling pro-social behavior and skills.
• Perform all aspects of the individualized active treatment program for assigned individuals.
• Act as a liaison between leisure department and other Interdisciplinary Team members for the purpose of ensuring on-going programming and goal development.
• Attend department meetings for the purpose of communication, presenting problem areas for discussion and planning, and coordinating activities with other Activities Specialists.
• Maintain supply of leisure activities and materials at houses in assigned caseload. Review requests for appropriateness of activities and individuals to be involved and keep an on-going inventory of all leisure supplies/materials.
• Complete necessary preparations for trips (e.g. check admission prices, schedule tours, and contact agencies as necessary to obtain specific information). Determine amount of money per person to be spent on each activity, coordinate account balances for people attending with Treatment Program Managers. Coordinate with Business Office, obtain and cash checks for trips, and make funds available to accompanying staff. Turn all receipts in per guidelines.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

WRC prepares and supports individuals to live in the community of their choice. This facility is a great place to develop or continue your healthcare career if you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work, supporting individuals by working as part of their interdisciplinary team, and helping to develop person-centered Individual Support Plans to meet specific support needs, preferences, and goals. The facility provides a range of services that include being an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/IID), daily supported community living, consultations/training, behavioral health services, physical nutrition management, and community residential-based guidance in learning prosocial behavior and personal accountability.

For more information about WRC: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/woodward-resource-center

Benefits of Joining WRC

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits.

Woodward Highlights

Woodward is a city of approximately 1,300 located in central Iowa. The High Trestle Trail begins here and boasts 25 miles of paved surface running through five towns and four counties in the heart of Iowa. The trail includes an iconic, 1/2-mile, 13-story high bridge across the Des Moines River valley, one of the largest trail bridges in the world. The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is just a quick drive away offering more trails, scenic overlooks and other amazing natural features.

Woodward is about 30 minutes away Ames, home of Iowa State University. Des Moines, Iowa’s capitol city, is also about the same distance away and home to Casey’s Center (host site of NCAA Basketball and premier concerts) and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest skatepark. Additionally, Des Moines hosts one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to professional sports teams the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wolves, Iowa Barnstormers and Iowa Wild. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in art, the behavioral/social sciences, industrial therapy, music, occupational therapy, physical education, recreation, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, or other closely related fields;
• experience at a level comparable to Activities Assistant or above may be substituted in any equivalent combination for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for each thirty-semester hours of education to a maximum of four years;
• employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to two years of full-time work as an Activities Assistant.

Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and endorsements.