Activity Therapist - Outpatient

Hugh Chatham Health, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 37,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking a part-time Recreational Therapist for its Behavioral Health outpatient program serving children, adolescents, and adults in Wisconsin. The role supports activity-based therapeutic groups, with 24 hours per week from Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, including a 30‑minute meal break.

Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Recreational Therapy and about 1 year of behavioral health experience, or equivalent clinical field work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Recreational Therapy.
• Typically requires 1 year of experience in behavioral health setting, this may be substituted for the clinical field work experience.
• Completion of clinical field work experience on a full-time basis is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops, plans, implements and evaluates recreational and experiential therapy programming to help patients reach treatment goals.
• Individualizes treatment programming and facilitates activities across the continuum of care.
• Provides leadership, role modeling, and integrates group dynamics into therapy.
• Completes documentation in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Contributes to treatment plan formulation within a multidisciplinary team.
• Educates other disciplines on recreational therapy theory and philosophy and evaluates programming for improvement.
• Monitors patient behavior and intervenes safely using de-escalation techniques.
• Maintains therapy equipment and supplies.
• Adheres to Hospital, State of Wisconsin and Joint Commission standards.

Skills

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Recreational Therapy

Job description

Department

36604 Aurora Psychiatric Hospital - Behavioral Health O/P: Child and Adolescent

Status

Part time

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Hours Per Week

24

Schedule Details/Additional Information

• Facilitate activity-based therapeutic groups within outpatient behavioral health programs serving children, adolescents, and adults.
• This 24 weekly hour position works Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (6.5 hours) with a 30-minute unpaid meal break each day.
• Ideal candidates are passionate about supporting mental health and engaging patients through therapeutic activities.

Pay Range

$26.55 - $39.85

Major Responsibilities

• Develops, plans, implements and evaluates recreational and experiential therapy programming as a means to assist patients in reaching treatment goals. Plans are developed as a response to patient assessment conducted.
• Individualizes treatment programming for patients as assigned. Facilitates therapeutic activities involving a variety of modalities and across the continuum of care.
• Provides leadership and role modeling, incorporating group dynamics into process.
• Completes all documentation in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Participates with the interdisciplinary team in treatment plan formulation by contributing to the assessment of the patients' needs from a psychosocial activity point of view.
• Educates other disciplines in theory and philosophy of recreational therapy as needed. Evaluates programming on an on-going basis and formulates plan for improvement as needed.
• Monitors patient behavior and intervenes appropriately in a safe manner, using de-escalation techniques.
• Maintains recreational therapy equipment and supplies.
• Maintains awareness of and works within Hospital, State of Wisconsin and the Joint Commission (TJC) standards of practice.
• Develops supportive, collaborative relationships with all disciplines to promote positive, team-oriented approach to patient care.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

None Required.

Education Required

Bachelor's Degree in Recreational Therapy.

Experience Required

Typically requires 1 year of experience in assigned specialty area in behavioral health setting, this may be substituted for the clinical field work experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Must have completed or in process of completion, a clinical field work experience on a full-time basis.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to function in a multidisciplinary team.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders frequently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to:
• lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• Lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
• Carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Must be physically able to restrain and control patients who are outwardly psychotic or physically combative.
• Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment To You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits And More

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.