Activity Therapist Aide

Dallas Behavioral; DeSoto, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Professional development support

Job summary

Dallas Behavioral is seeking an Activity Therapist Aide to support the Activity Therapy Department in delivering structured, therapeutic and leisure-based programming for inpatients. You will assist therapists, prepare spaces and materials, and help maintain a safe, collaborative milieu aligned with hospital policies.

The role emphasizes strong communication, boundary maintenance, and timely reporting of observations to the treatment team, with responsibilities extending to transport and setup

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; additional education in behavioral health preferred.
• Experience in behavioral health settings with children, adolescents or adults is preferred.
• Must obtain CPR certification and completion of Management of Aggressive Behavior training prior to patient care.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning, preparing, and implementing scheduled therapeutic and recreational activities.
• Prepare activity areas, supplies, equipment, and materials prior to programming.
• Assist with facilitating groups and activities under supervision.
• Encourage patient participation in therapeutic, recreational, social, educational, and leisure activities.
• Provide support and redirection to patients while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitor patient participation and report significant observations to clinical staff.
• Transport or escort patients to activity areas in accordance with policy and safety requirements.
• Maintain HIPAA confidentiality and professional communication.

Skills

Communication

Boundaries

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Observation skills

Follow instructions

Education

High school diploma or GED

Behavioral health education preferred

Job description

Job Summary

The Activity Therapist Aide provides support to the Activity Therapy Department in the delivery of structured, therapeutic, recreational, educational, and leisure-based programming for patients receiving inpatient behavioral health services. The Activity Therapist Aide assists Activity Therapists with preparing, facilitating, and maintaining therapeutic activities designed to promote socialization, coping skills, emotional expression, communication, leisure skills, and overall patient functioning.

The Activity Therapist Aide works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team and follows all hospital policies, procedures, safety standards, and clinical directives. The position requires consistent awareness of patient behaviors, appropriate professional boundaries, and the ability to maintain a safe and therapeutic milieu.

Essential Duties

• Assist Activity Therapists with planning, preparing, and implementing scheduled therapeutic and recreational activities.
• Prepare activity areas, supplies, equipment, and materials prior to scheduled programming.
• Assist with facilitating groups and activities under the direction and supervision of the Activity Therapist.
• Encourage patient participation in therapeutic, recreational, social, educational, and leisure activities.
• Provide appropriate support and redirection to patients during activities while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitor patient participation, behavior, and engagement during assigned activities and communicate significant observations to the appropriate clinical staff.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and therapeutic environment during activity programming.
• Follow established patient safety procedures, including precautions related to contraband, environmental safety, and appropriate use of therapeutic equipment and supplies.
• Assist with maintaining an accurate inventory of activity supplies and notify the supervisor when supplies need to be replenished.
• Clean, organize, and sanitize activity areas and equipment according to hospital standards.
• Assist with setting up and breaking down activity programming spaces.
• Support the Activity Therapy Department in maintaining an organized schedule of daily programming.
• Assist with transporting or escorting patients to and from designated activity areas in accordance with hospital policy and patient safety requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policies.
• Communicate appropriately and professionally with patients, families, coworkers, and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Report changes in patient behavior, safety concerns, incidents, or other significant observations to the appropriate licensed or supervisory staff.
• Attend required staff meetings, in-services, training, and educational programs.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and compliance with hospital policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and behavioral health safety standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Activity Therapy Director, Lead Activity Therapist, or designated supervisor.

Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

• Education - High school diploma or GED required. Additional education in behavioral health, recreation, psychology, social services, education, or a related field preferred.
• Experience - Previous experience working with children, adolescents, adults, or behavioral health populations preferred. Previous experience in a hospital, psychiatric, residential, recreational, or social-service setting preferred.
• Additional Requirements - Must obtain and maintain approved CPR certification as well as successful completion of Management of Aggressive Behavior training including restraint and seclusion policies prior to assuming patient care responsibility.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to interact effectively with individuals experiencing behavioral health symptoms.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced inpatient environment.
• Ability to recognize and report changes in patient behavior.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during stressful or crisis situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to safely use and maintain activity equipment and supplies.

• Screening: Must successfully pass background check, drug screen, physical and be able to provide positive employment references.
• Physical Demands: With or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand for sustained period of time, walk, pull, lift, raise and move objects from position to position (up to 50 lbs), finger grasp; feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures; express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly; visually detect, determine, perceive, identify, recognize, judge, observe, inspect, assess; perceive the nature of sound with or without correction; perform repetitive motions of the wrist, hands, or fingers.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

If you are among the most competitive and qualified candidates for the job, you will be contacted directly by one of our hiring managers. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding your application status. Good Luck & we hope to meet you soon!

Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, company paid disability, 401(k) and a generous amount of paid time off.