Creative Arts Therapist - Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals; Hempfield Township (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals is seeking a Creative Arts Therapist to provide therapeutic services utilizing various modalities like art, music, and drama. You will implement individual and group therapy programs, assess patient needs, and collaborate with the treatment team.

The ideal candidate will have a valid license from the NYS Education Department, alongside practical experience in the creative arts therapy field. This role demands a compassionate approach to patient care and aims to enhance patients' therapeutic experiences.

Qualifications

• License issued by NYS Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist.
• Minimum two years of experience in creative arts therapy for Assignment Level II.
• One additional year of experience for Assignment Level III.

Responsibilities

• Establish therapeutic group/individual therapy programs.
• Conduct assessments to evaluate functioning through creative arts.
• Develop treatment goals based on patient assessments.

Skills

Creative arts therapy principles

Patient assessment

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Therapeutic interventions

Education

Valid License or Limited Permit from NYS Education Department

Two years of full‑time experience in creative arts therapy

Job description

Purpose of Position

This class of positions encompasses professional and/or supervisory work of varying degrees of difficulty in the operation of a creative arts therapy department providing therapeutic services through the utilization of various modalities, principles and techniques specific to the creative arts therapy discipline. All personnel perform related work. Under direction, with broad latitude for independent judgment and decision making, performs difficult and responsible professional work in the creative arts therapy discipline.

Examples of Typical Tasks (Assignment Level I)

• Establishes and implements comprehensive therapeutic group/individual therapy programs utilizing principles and practices of creative arts therapy.
• Conducts individual assessments of patient’s strengths and weaknesses to evaluate social, cognitive, psychological and physical functioning through the creative arts process.
• Develops treatment goals and objectives based on initial and ongoing assessments designed to improve functioning through the utilization of the techniques unique to the creative arts therapy discipline.
• Implements therapeutic interventions utilizing art, music, drama, dance or poetry as a modality to facilitate the patient’s attainment of goals articulated in the patient treatment plans.
• Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team by attending meetings and contributing to the formulation of individual patient comprehensive treatment plans.
• Writes regular progress notes on patient’s behavior and responses to treatment goals.
• Prepares and maintains records, progress reports, statistical information and participates in departmental and facility-wide quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
• Prepares supply requisitions and maintains inventories of equipment and supplies as designated.
• May be assigned to coordinate and supervise the activities of auxiliary staff in related therapeutic disciplines.
• May be assigned to instruct and supervise volunteers, interns and students in the areas of creative arts therapy.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Duties (Beyond Assignment Level I)

• Serves as a professional resource to Creative Arts Therapists in the development and implementation of specialized treatment interventions utilizing non-verbal, diagnostic and expressive techniques.
• Provides consultation for complex cases in the evaluation of social, cognitive, psychological and physical functioning through the creative arts therapy process.
• Monitors, documents and evaluates the attainment of creative arts therapy goals as part of the therapeutic process.
• May represent the department at conferences, workshops, hospital or community functions; reports actions and findings to department.
• May develop and conduct departmental training programs to introduce new developments and techniques within the creative arts therapy discipline.
• May be assigned to function as a primary therapist, as long as practicing within the boundaries of professional competency, as specified in the New York State Education Law, Article 163, Section 8407.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Assignment Level I

• A valid License or Limited Permit issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist. Employees working with a Limited Permit must obtain licensure within two years from their date of appointment.

Assignment Level II

• A valid License issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist.
• Two years of full‑time, paid, professional experience in creative arts therapy.

Assignment Level III

• In addition to meeting the requirements for Assignment Levels II and III
• One additional year of experience.