Recreational Therapist

UNC Health; North Carolina; On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health in Chapel Hill is seeking a Recreational Therapist I to deliver evidence-based assessment, treatment interventions, education, and discharge planning for diverse patient populations across medical and behavioral health settings.

The role supports an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and focuses on meaningful leisure and therapeutic activities to improve physical functioning, emotional well-being, coping, and community reintegration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation or Recreational Therapy, including an internship.
• Licensed as a Recreational Therapist by the NC Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure (NCBRTL).
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by NCTRC.
• BLS within 3 months of hire date.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients and develop individualized treatment plans with short and long-term goals.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to discharge/transition planning and education for patients and families.
• Document patient responses and reassess progress, adjusting plans as needed.
• Implement treatment plans to restore function and independence.
• Provide clinical education or supervision to staff and students when appropriate.
• Participate in quality improvement and program development activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Physical stamina

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation

NCBRTL licensure

CTRS certification

BLS certification

Job description

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary

The Recreational Therapist I provides evidence-based assessment, treatment interventions, education, and discharge planning for patients and caregivers across medical and behavioral health settings. This position serves diverse patient populations, including individuals receiving care on burn, oncology, bone marrow, and inpatient mental health units. The clinician demonstrates knowledge of psychiatric and psychosocial conditions, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, trauma-related, substance use, cognitive, and adjustment-related disorders, and applies therapeutic recreation interventions to address each patient’s individualized needs. Working as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, the Recreational Therapist I uses meaningful leisure and therapeutic activities to support physical functioning, emotional well-being, coping and stress-management skills, symptom management, adjustment to trauma and lifestyle changes, independence, recovery, community reintegration, and overall quality of life. The clinician provides person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented care and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team throughout assessment, treatment, education, and discharge planning. The Recreational Therapist I contributes to professional and departmental development through student shadowing, clinical instruction and mentorship of practicum and intern recreational therapy students, new employee training, continuing education, and community outreach. The clinician also demonstrates accountability for program development, quality improvement, problem-solving, professional growth, and productivity enhancement while working collaboratively and flexibly within the team. The ideal candidate is dynamic, motivated, and team-oriented, with inpatient mental health experience and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient care across a broad range of clinical needs. The selected candidate will work Monday through Friday with occasional weekend and holiday coverage.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes comprehensive data from the patient assessment/evaluation and plans, develops and documents an individualized treatment plan that identifies short and long term goals and interventions in substantial compliance with department policies and protocols, standards of regulatory agencies and professional standards of practice.
• Develops and documents patients' discharge/transition plan in collaboration with the patient, family/significant others and treatment team, in substantial compliance with department policies and protocols, standards of regulatory agencies and professional standards of practice
• Documents and reports patients' response to interventions, re-assesses and evaluates patients' progress towards goals, modifies treatment goals/plan as necessary, in substantial compliance with department policies and protocols, standards of regulatory agencies and professional standards of practice
• Implements individualized patient treatment plans and plans, develops and facilitates interventions, in substantial compliance with department policies and protocols, standards of regulatory agencies and professional standards of practice, to restore, remediate or rehabilitate patients' functioning and increase patients' independence.
• Leadership Demonstrates the function of a leader in the profession in the following manner Advocates for and facilitates necessary change, development for people, and initiatives. Exemplifies quality service provision. Manages professional practice through promoting and demonstrating accountability
• Provides clinical education or supervision to staff, interns, clinical fellows and other disciplines, participates in competency assessment/enhancement activities and meets development goals in compliance with Hospitals and department policies and protocols
• Quality Improvement and Resource Management Plans, develops, coordinates and evaluates specialized programs for specific clinical service areas and engages in evaluation/research and quality improvement activities for the clinical service team and department. Participates in the acquisition and maintenance of supplies, equipment and facility planning.
• Responds to physicians' orders for patient assessment and treatment, individually assesses/evaluates patients to determine and document needs, interests and abilities in substantial compliance with department policies/protocols, standards of regulatory agencies and professional standards of practice

Other Information

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation or Recreational Therapy, which includes an internship.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Licensed as a Recreational Therapist by the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure (NCBRTL).
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
• BLS within 3 months of hire date.

Professional Experience Requirements

• No prior experience required.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Exhibits effective communication and interprofessional skills; requires physical stamina and repetitive movements, including, but not limited to, sitting, standing, kneeling, walking, and squatting during patient interventions while supporting one's weight; can engage in high-level problem-solving to ensure patient safety during mobilization.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Recreational Therapy Admin

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range: $20.74 - $29.52 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities.