ACTIVITY THERAPIST - FULL TIME

Universal Health Services; Summit (NJ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development opportunities

Competitive compensation

Excellent health plans

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Universal Health Services, Summit Oaks Hospital, is seeking a Therapeutic Activities Therapist to plan and implement activity services for assigned programs as part of a multidisciplinary team. The role involves defining treatment goals and providing continuous patient care to patients ranging from preschool through geriatrics, across multiple units including adult psych, dual diagnosis, child/adolescent, detox and rehab.

Shift hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Licensure/board certification in art therapy, recreation therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling is required.
• 1-3 years of related work experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior and progress toward treatment goals.
• Provide therapy groups and activities to patients across age ranges as assigned.
• Maintain timely documentation of interventions and progress notes.
• Assist in planning and implementing therapeutic activities and group interventions.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary team to adapt treatment plans and ensure patient safety.

Skills

CTRS

ATR (Art Therapy)

MT-BC (Music Therapy)

LAC/LPC Counseling

English fluency

Group therapy

CPR knowledge

Adolescent/Adult program rules

Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Job description

Responsibilities

Summit Oaks Hospital, a 126 bed, private acute care hospital and chemical dependency treatment center, located in a picturesque suburban setting, fully accredited (by the Joint Commission), has been providing quality health care to adult, child and adolescent northeastern USA residents, since 1902.Summit Oaks has repeatedly been recognized in U.S. News & World Report, as one of the nation's best behavioral health hospitals.

Much more online at: https://summitoakshospital.com/

Our Therapeutic Activities Therapist position presents an ideal opportunity for an energetic, motivated individual with prior experience working with patients with behavioral health or addictions diagnosis. The Therapeutic Activities Therapist functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, role modeling, and monitoring patients ranging in age from preschool through geriatrics , depending on the nursing unit assigned. At present, the nursing units include a 28 bed adult psych unit, a 28 bed adult dual diagnosis, a 22 bed child and adolescent unit , a 24 bed detox unit and a 20 bed rehab unit.

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues were $14.3 billion in 2023. During the year, UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; and listed in Forbes ranking of America's Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 96,700 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located all over the U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. www.uhs.com

Position Summary

The Therapeutic Activities Therapist is responsible for planning and implementing activity services for assigned program, which involves defining and implementing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.

Shift Hours: 9:00am to 5:30pm

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree (Required)
• Certification, licensure, and/or Board Certification by state and/or national governing body in Art Therapy (Required)
• Licenses Included: CTRS (recreation therapy), ATR (art therapy), MT-BC (music therapy), OT (occupational therapy) and LAC/LPC (counseling)
• Related Work Experience: 1-3 years (Required)
• Specialized Skills and Knowledge:
  • 1. Knowledge in one or more program disciplines (i.e. art, occupational, recreation, and/or music, expressive, dance therapy).
  • 2. Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.
  • 3. Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques.
  • 4. Thorough knowledge and training in CPR, preferred.
  • 5. Knowledge of adolescent and adult program rules and protocols.
  • 6. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
  • 7. Ability to speak and write fluently in English language.
  • 8. Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
• Essential Job Duties/Responsibilities:
  • 1. Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.
  • 2. Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals.
  • 3. Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Program Coordinator.
  • 4. Provides assessment in psychosocial/leisure and recreational skills development/deficiency.
  • 5. Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care.
  • 6. Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required.
  • 7. Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning.
  • 8. Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria.
  • 9. Maintain current documentation in weekly progress notes, including the patient's name, date, name of therapeutic group/intervention, and summary of the session.
  • 10. Effectively plans and implements therapeutic activity groups for assigned patient case load within the facility, as well as outside the hospital as required.
  • 11. Monitor therapeutic space, supplies and equipment and ensures they are kept in a clean, orderly and safe condition.
  • 12. Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients.
  • 13. Demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.
  • 14. Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.
  • 15. Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld.
  • 16. Report therapeutic services charges daily, substantiating any changes in the treatment notes.
  • 17. Attend program meetings and maintain related records.
  • 18. Provide direction, education, and inservice to other unit personnel regarding Therapeutic Activities Department.
  • 19. Teach coping skills and stress management techniques to patients.
  • 20. Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to therapy, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.
  • 21. Contribute to treatment plan with specific goals and interventions to be achieved in therapeutic activities.
  • 22. Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines and maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for behavior related to child development arise.
  • 23. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning disabled child.
  • 24. Relate to child patients in an age appropriate manner.
  • 25. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issue.
  • 26. Recognize acting out behavior of adolescent specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
  • 27. Maintain current knowledge of the Adult Program rules, protocols and handbook guidelines.
  • 28. Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use therapeutic judgements based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.
  • 29. Maintain a complete knowledge of treatments, medications and side effects of such in the geriatric age group.
  • 30. Collaborate with other chemical dependency staff professionals in planning for discharge and follow-up care.
  • 31. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

BENEFITS:

• Career development opportunities across UHS and its 300+ locations!
• Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
• 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
• Tuition Reimbursement (eligible employees)