Therapeutic Activities Worker - SCI Waymart

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Canaan Township (PA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections, SCI Waymart, is seeking a Therapeutic Activities Worker to guide inmates through structured activities that support growth and stability.

You will participate in a multi-disciplinary team, plan, conduct, and evaluate activities, and ensure alignment with inmate treatment plans. The role requires a 40-hour week and a schedule from 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM, with no telework option. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in therapeutic recreation or related field.
• Four years of experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with disabilities.
• Equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Within 3 months of graduating with qualifying degree/credit.

Responsibilities

• Team Collaboration: Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and offer recommendations for therapeutic activities
• Assessment Support: Assist other disciplines in evaluating inmate functioning for individualized treatment plans
• Progress Monitoring: Track and report inmate progress toward activity-based goals
• Activity Development: Create therapeutic activity goals, objectives, and methods for both individual and group programming
• Program Delivery: Conduct activities and assessments while providing instruction, direction, and support to inmates
• Resource Coordination: Request supplies, schedule space, and organize equipment for program operations

Education

Bachelor's degree with major coursework in therapeutic recreation or related field

Four years of experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with disabilities

Job description

The Department of Corrections, State Correctional Institution (SCI) Waymart is seeking a highly motivated Therapeutic Activities Worker to join our team. In this role, you will help guide inmates through activities that support growth and stability. This position brings you into a collaborative team where your creativity and dedication matter every day. If you have the required experience as indicated below, and wish to explore a rewarding career that offers the opportunity to share your skills while earning a great salary and benefits, the PA Department of Corrections wants to hear from you!

This position supports therapeutic activity programming within specialized housing units and works closely with a multi-disciplinary team. The role focuses on planning, conducting, and evaluating structured activities that contribute to inmate treatment plans. As a Therapeutic Activities Worker, you will perform the following duties:

• Team Collaboration: Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and offer recommendations for therapeutic activities
• Assessment Support: Assist other disciplines in evaluating inmate functioning for individualized treatment plans
• Progress Monitoring: Track and report inmate progress toward activity-based goals
• Activity Development: Create therapeutic activity goals, objectives, and methods for both individual and group programming
• Program Delivery: Conduct activities and assessments while providing instruction, direction, and support to inmates
• Resource Coordination: Request supplies, schedule space, and organize equipment for program operations

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40-hour work week
• Work hours are 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree with major coursework in therapeutic recreation; physical education; vocational rehabilitation; vocational education or counseling; art, music, dance, or occupational therapies; or a related human services field; or
• Four years of experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with physical, medical, or cognitive disabilities; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credit.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirement:

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.