General Activities Therapist 1 - Units

State of Ohio; Massillon (OH); On-site; USD 24,082 - 34,299; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Free Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance after eligibility

Paid time off including vacation and holidays

Education and Development Opportunities

Job summary

State of Ohio is hiring a General Activities Therapist 1 in Massillon, Ohio, to manage Activity Therapy programs within a behavioral health setting. Responsibilities include planning activities, assessing patient participation, and documenting treatment responses. Applicants should have an associate degree in recreation and some experience in activity therapy. Full-time positions include competitive benefits and are subject to a background check and drug tests.

Qualifications

• Completion of an associate degree in recreation and 6 months experience in activity therapy or recreation.
• Or completion of an undergraduate core program in a recreational area (e.g., physical education).
• Or 24 months experience as Activities Aide.

Responsibilities

• Plans and organizes Activity Therapy programs/services that meet patients’ interest levels.
• Assesses when to change an activity based on attendance and patient feedback.
• Documents patients' response to treatment goals.

Skills

Behavioral Health

Mental Health

Adaptability

Coaching

Developing Others

Goal Setting

Teamwork

Time Management

Education

Completion of associate degree in recreation

24 months experience as Activities Aide

Job description

Job Description - General Activities Therapist 1 - Units (2600038T)

General Activities Therapist 1 - Units (2600038T)

Organization

Behavioral Health - Heartland Behavioral Healthcare

Unposting Date

May 7, 2026, 3:59:00 AM

Work Location

Heartland Behavioral Health 3000 Erie Street South Massillon 44646

Primary Location

United States of America - OHIO - Stark County - Massillon

Compensation: $21.19

Schedule

Full‑time

Work Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., every other weekend

Primary Job Skill

Human Resources

Technical Skills: Behavioral Health, Mental Health

Professional Skills: Adaptability, Coaching, Developing Others, Goal Setting, Teamwork, Time Management

Agency Overview

Unit‑based GAT1

General Activities Therapist 1

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders. We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values:

• Service‑Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service‑oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well‑being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma‑free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second‑chance hiring, and recovery‑informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

Job Description

What you’ll do at DBH

• Plans, organizes, conducts & ensures implementation of Activity Therapy programs/services that meet the patients’ interest level and have value in any of the following life domains: physical, mental, emotional, social, and/or spiritual. Ensures programming is therapeutic & goal‑reaching.
• Assesses when it is time to change an activity based on attendance numbers and patient feedback.
• May or may not complete activity assessments.
• Escorts patients off grounds for community outings.
• Documents patients’ response to treatment plan goals in the electronic record.
• Observes and monitors activities of patients during leisure and program time.
• Escorts patients to and from activities; maintains patient attendance for general activities and/or leisure times; tracks Level II’s while in the treatment mall and completes observations to complete treatment mall safety rounds.
• Meets with patients to assist patients in completing satisfaction surveys if needed; assists with oversight when volunteers offer programs that can include but are not limited to bingo and religious services/programs.
• Communicates and/or attends meetings with Treatment Teams for cohesive patient care.
• Primary work area is On‑Unit with some work in the Treatment Mall.

This hourly position is covered by the OCSEA/AFSCME bargaining unit (union) and is paid on the OCSEAPay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m., every other weekend. The position is located within the Heartland Behavioral Healthcare campus at 3000 Erie Street South, Massillon, OH 44646.

Unless required by any applicable union contract or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for a pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full‑time and part‑time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website. Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

Position Qualifications

• Completion of associate degree in recreation; 6 months experience in activity therapy or recreation.
• Or completion of undergraduate core program in recreational area (e.g., physical education).
• Or 24 months experience as Activities Aide, 44210.
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

All eligible applications will be reviewed considering the following criteria: qualifications, experience, education, and active disciplinary record.

Primary Job Skill: Activity Therapy.

Technical Skills: Behavioral Health, Mental Health.

Professional Skills: Adaptability, Coaching, Developing Others, Goal Setting, Time Management, Teamwork.

Required Educational Transcripts: Official transcripts are required for all post‑secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration.

Supplemental Information

Application Procedures:

To be considered for this position, you must apply online through the posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. The application must contain evidence of qualifications, experience, education, and training. Supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application.

Background Check Notice:

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undertake a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. Rule 5122‑7‑21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug‑Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug‑free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non‑medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug‑Free Workplace Policy (HR‑39), and as outlined in the posting.