Activity Therapist - Full Time

Ocean View Psychiatric Hospital; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings

Professional growth opportunities

Team-oriented environment

Job summary

Ocean View Psychiatric Hospital in Long Beach, CA, seeks a dedicated Recreational Therapist to develop and implement therapeutic activities for adults in an inpatient setting. You will organize group sessions, assess patient needs, and coordinate discharge planning with a multidisciplinary team.

Working under the Director of Social Services, you’ll supervise RT interns, maintain accurate documentation, and ensure safety and quality standards while supporting patient stability and recovery

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational, therapeutic recreation, art, music, or drama therapy.
• Minimum of two (2) years of direct service experience working with acute behavioral health in an inpatient hospital setting (internship or practicum hours may be considered)
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, composed, and effective in high-stress or crisis situations.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration across disciplines and departments.
• Proficiency in computers and electronic documentation
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in English
• Current CPR, BLS, and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment
• Demonstrate understanding and be compliant with Patients' Rights, LPS Statutes, and Seclusion and Restraint Protocols.

Responsibilities

• Implement rehabilitation activity groups for patients.
• Conduct activity groups and therapy sessions including assessments, group notes, 1:1 sessions, treatment planning, and discharge planning.
• Monitor patients' safety during hygiene and activity groups.
• Maintain quality verbal reporting and written documentation of patient involvement and progress.
• Coordinate treatment and unit activities with other programs and multidisciplinary staff.
• Monitor safety and order in rehabilitation group rooms and unit areas.
• Provide feedback on department and program policies and procedures.
• Represent Recreation Therapy on facility committees and in interactions with patients’ families and support systems.
• Document admissions, discharges, group participation, and complete screenings and treatment plan interventions within required timeframes.
• Attend multidisciplinary treatment planning meetings.
• Provide individual leisure counseling and discharge planning as needed.
• Complete data collection for performance improvement activities.
• Keep assigned areas clean, orderly, and safe.
• Supervise and advise RT interns and assistants.
• Work designated holidays as required.
• Demonstrate understanding and be compliant with Patients' Rights, LPS Statutes, and Seclusion and Restraint Protocols.

Skills

Crisis management

Team collaboration

Verbal & written communication

English fluency

CPR/BLS/First Aid

Data entry

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation/therapy

Tools

EHR systems

Microsoft Office

Slack/Zoom

Job description

We are proud to serve as a trusted resource for our community, providing high-quality mental health care with compassion and integrity. Our Long Beach facility currently operates as a 79-bed adult voluntary acute inpatient program, offering private rooms and individualized treatment delivered by a multidisciplinary team. We are dedicated to best practices and person-centered care, supporting each patient's journey toward stability and recovery. To promote continuity of care beyond inpatient treatment, we also offer Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs tailored to meet each individual's clinical needs. We are also actively expanding our services across Southern California, with our new San Bernardino campus expected to open later this year.

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule and Hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Long Beach, CA

Position Overview

The Recreational Therapist functions under the Director of Social Services to plan, develop, coordinate, and implement therapeutic treatment programs and activities tailored to meet the needs and interests of each patient in the facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement rehabilitation activity groups for patients as needed.
• Conduct activity groups and services of the Recreation Therapy Treatment Program, including assessments, group notes, 1:1 sessions, treatment planning, and discharge planning.
• Monitor patients' safety during hygiene and activity groups.
• Maintain quality verbal reporting and written documentation of patient involvement and progress.
• Coordinate treatment and unit activities with other programs and multidisciplinary staff.
• Monitor safety and order in rehabilitation group rooms and unit areas.
• Provide feedback on department and program policies and procedures.
• Represent Recreation Therapy on facility committees and in interactions with patients’ families and support systems.
• Document admissions, discharges, group participation, and complete screenings and treatment plan interventions within required timeframes.
• Attend multidisciplinary treatment planning meetings.
• Provide individual leisure counseling and discharge planning as needed.
• Complete data collection for performance improvement activities.
• Keep assigned areas clean, orderly, and safe.
• Supervise and advise RT interns and assistants.
• Work designated holidays as required.
• Demonstrate understanding and be compliant with Patients' Rights, LPS Statutes, and Seclusion and Restraint Protocols.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational, therapeutic recreation, art, music, or drama therapy required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of direct service experience working with acute behavioral health in an inpatient hospital setting (internship or practicum hours may be considered)
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, composed, and effective in high-stress or crisis situations.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills across disciplines and departments.
• Demonstrated sound professional judgment; clinical judgment where applicable to licensure/role.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and standard keyboard functions for data entry and electronic documentation
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in English
• Current CPR, BLS, and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment
• Demonstrate understanding and be compliant with Patients' Rights, LPS Statutes, and Seclusion and Restraint Protocols.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish or other languages commonly spoken by the patient population
• Prior experience using Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems for documentation and coordination of care
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams) and/or cloud-based communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom)
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, or other languages commonly spoken by the patient population
• Crisis prevention/intervention training (e.g., HWC, CPI, PMAB) or de-escalation certification
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care principles and culturally responsive practices
• Leadership experience or demonstrated capacity to mentor others
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for qualifying employees
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Supportive, team-oriented work environment
• Opportunities for professional growth, training, and advancement within the organization

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Frequent walking, standing, sitting, twisting, and bending are required.
• Must possess adequate auditory capacity to communicate clearly and follow verbal instructions.
• May be required to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to operate standard office and/or clinical equipment requiring repetitive hand movements, manual dexterity, and fine finger coordination, including the use of computers, telephones, and related devices.

Special Conditions

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Live Scan fingerprinting, background check clearance, and verification of required licenses, certifications, and education