Recreation Therapist, CF – Impactful Inmate Wellness Programs

California Correctional Health Care Services; California; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

California Correctional Health Care Services seeks a Recreation Therapist, CF, for Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA. The RT develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for patients within the state correctional system.

The role involves instructing patients in individual and group recreation therapy, monitoring progress, and coordinating with other health care providers to incorporate therapeutic activities into treatment plans while maintaining order and safety.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized college with a major in recreation or recreation therapy, including supervised field work.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for patients.
• Instructs and motivates patients in individual and group recreation therapy.
• Monitors and documents treatment progress and shares information with other health care providers.
• Maintains order and supervises the conduct of patients to protect and maintain safety of persons and property.

Skills

Recreation therapy

Field work supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation or recreation therapy

Job description

Department Information

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Correctional Health Care Services are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

CDCR and CCHCS strive to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

Commitment to California Model

CDCR and CCHCS are proud to partner on the California Model which will transform the correctional landscape for our employees and the incarcerated. The California Model is a systemwide change that leverages national and international best practices to address longstanding challenges related to incarceration and institution working conditions, creating a safe, professional, and satisfying workplace for staff as well as rehabilitation for the incarcerated. Additionally, the California Model improves success of the decarcerated through robust re-entry efforts back into to the community.

This advertisement is for a Recreation Therapist, CF position(s) located at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA, located in Amador County.

Please indicate the position number on your application: 025-220-9286-XXX

Please Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure to have a valid email address on your application.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers

Job Description And Duties

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 19, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

Limited Term 12 months; may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent.

• Recruitment and Retention Bonus may be available for clinicians newly hired with California Correctional Health Care Services.
• This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is $9,159-$9,615.
• Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $5,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.
  
  
  

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Under the general direction of the Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (CF) (Supervisor) or Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I, CF, the Recreation Therapist (RT), CF develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for patients within California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions. The RT, CF instructs and motivates patients in individual and group recreation therapy, monitors and documents treatment progress, and works with other health care providers to share recreational therapy assessment information and incorporate therapeutic recreational activities into treatment plans. The RT, CF maintains order and supervises the conduct of patients to protect and maintain the safety of persons and property.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

To view the duty statement for this position, click on the duty statement link.

This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates:07/29/26, 8/12/26, 8/26/26, 9/9/26, 9/23/26, 10/7/26, 10/21/26, 11/4/26

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.