Recreation Therapist

Vista Community Clinic; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Company-paid life insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Vista Community Clinic (VCC) seeks an experienced Recreation Director to lead dementia-focused and general recreational programming at the PACE Day Center. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to assess participants, develop care plans, and implement engaging activities for aging and cognitively diverse populations.

Responsibilities include managing schedules, community outings, staff training, and budget oversight, while maintaining participant records and promoting a supportive

Qualifications

• Activity Director’s Class certification or OTA/therapist credentials.
• Minimum two years’ experience in social or recreational program for frail/elderly.
• Valid CA driver’s license; reliable transportation; clean driving record.
• Current CPR/BLS Certification.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-person recreational assessment for initial, semi-annual, annual and as needed.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary team to develop a comprehensive care plan for each participant.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and communicate participant changes.
• Plan and implement activities to improve cognitive, physical, social, psychosocial, and artistic needs.
• Oversee dementia-specific activities and manage daily flow of the area.
• Organize community outings and special events at the PACE Day Center.

Skills

PACE program knowledge

Recreational therapy

Assessment & care plan development

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Organizational skills

Communication skills (verbal & written

Computer proficiency

Driver's license

Independent judgment

Education

Activity Director’s Class certification

Occupational therapy assistant

Art therapist

Music therapist

Dance therapist

Qualified social worker

Tools

CPR/BLS Certification

Job description

At Vista Community Clinic (VCC), we believe healthcare is more than medicine, it’s about hope, community, and impact. For over 50 years, we’ve been a leader in the community clinic movement, growing from a small volunteer-driven effort in Vista to a nationally recognized network of state-of-the-art clinics across San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. Today VCC has 14 clinics serving over 70,000 patients annually, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional, patient-centered care where it’s needed most.

As a private, non-profit, multi-specialty outpatient clinic, VCC provides more than healthcare, we provide opportunity. Here your skills are celebrated, your growth is supported and your work makes a difference. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

For eligible employees, benefits include:

Competitive compensation & benefits

Medical, dental, vision

Company-paid life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

403(b) retirement plan

Why VCC?

• Winner of the 2025 HRSA Gold Medal for Outstanding Care, placing VCC among the top 10% of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the U.S.
• Recognized by HRSA as a National Quality Leader in Behavioral Health and Diabetes and for excellence in Preventive Health and Health IT.
• A robust training & development culture to help you grow and advance your career.
• A workplace built on respect, collaboration and passion for care.

Responsibilities

Job Summary

Plans, develop, implement, evaluate age-appropriate, therapeutic recreational activities for participants including those with cognitive, developmental, and physical disabilities. Provides direction and support to Recreation Assistants and other staff members as appropriate.

Essential Job Functions

• Conduct in person recreational assessment for initial, semi-annual, annual and as needed.
• Coordinates with the interdisciplinary team to develop a comprehensive care plan for each participant.
• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Maintains regular attendance at and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings; communicates participant changes, collaborates on care planning decisions and coordination for 24-hour care delivery
• Plans and implements group and individual activities to improve or maintain the participants' cognitive, physical, social, psychosocial, and artistic needs.
• Plans and implements activities for dementia-specific population.
• Oversee daily flow of dementia activities area. Activities may focus on small groups, one-on-one programming and sensory stimulation.
• Organizes community outings and special events at PACE Day Center as indicated by participant's needs and Interests. Duties include, arranging for participant transportation, entertainment, catering and involving other Day Center staff.
• Develops a monthly calendar of activities with participant involvement, posts schedule of planned activities in a central location readily accessible to participant, family, guardian, or authorized representative.
• Implements and manages Community networking utilizing other VCC activity programs and other community resources to enhance the PACE Recreation program.
• Organize and facilitate monthly Participant Council meetings to get feedback from participants on all PACE services and follow up on area of improvement.
• Provides recreational educational and training to support Activity Assistants, and other Center staff members as appropriate.
• Provides on-going support and training to all staff involved in dementia- specific programming related to the dementia disease process.
• Maintains participants' medical record and fulfills VCC's PACE charting and reporting requirements.
• Provides leisure education to participants and caregivers for activity modification, use of adaptive equipment, activity skill development, and recommended supplies for in-home use.
• Evaluates program plans to promote effective programs according to client abilities and preferences within the Day Center daily flow of events.
• Ensure recreation staff maintain general order in the activities area including daily clean-up. Maintains regular supply inventory ordering and overall general budgeting. Prepares the yearly budget for the recreation department
• Works cooperatively with other staff and departments to meet VCC's PACE participants' needs.
• Assist participants with non-skilled Activities of Daily Living (AOL) as needed.
• Protects privacy and maintains confidentiality of all company procedures, results and information about employees, participants and families.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Activity Director’s Class certification, or be an occupational therapy assistant, art therapist, musical therapist, dance therapist, or qualified social worker.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working in social or recreational program for the frail or elderly population in a healthcare setting.
• Valid California driver’s license and vehicle insurance; reliable transportation, to travel for meetings and/or to gather information for reporting purposes; minimum two years’ driving experience; no more than 2 violations or a single ticket/accident value at more than 1 point on driving record
• Current CPR/BLS Certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Education or training in geriatrics including dementia preferred

Required Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Knowledge of PACE program.
• Working knowledge of recreational therapy techniques and practices of the elderly including assessments, care plan development, monitoring, and evaluation. Familiar with illnesses common to diverse populations including frail older, developmentally, or physical disabled adult populations.
• Working knowledge of physical, psychosocial, and behavioral needs of the elderly population.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work without close supervision or professional guidance and to exercise independent judgment.
• Knowledge of physical, mental and social needs of frail older adults.
• Effective skills in physical assessment and chronic disease management for frail older adults.
• Effective listening and oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within the interdisciplinary team setting.
• Computer proficiency.
• Able to manage changing priorities per participant needs.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong Computer skills
• Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge as outlined in the position-specific Competency Assessment Profile.
• Requires valid driver’s license.

Pay

• $28.00 - $32.00 per hour Depending on Experience