Recreation Therapist; Cert

Recreation Therapist (CERT)

River Vista Behavioral Health is a brand new, 128‑bed facility located along the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. We provide advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors. The facility employs over 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administration.

We are seeking a forward‑thinking and compassionate Certified Recreation/Activity Therapist (CTRS) to be part of our Social Services Team. The Recreation Therapist plans and implements activity services for assigned programs, defining and executing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.

• Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.
• Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals.
• Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Program Coordinator.
• Provide assessment of psychosocial/leisure recreational skills development/deficiency within 72 hours.

• Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care.
• Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques as required.
• Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning.
• Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria.
• Maintain current documentation in daily progress notes, including the patient's name, date of therapy, name of therapeutic group/intervention and summary of session.

• Effectively plan and implement activity therapy for assigned patient case load within the facility, and outside the hospital as required.
• Monitor therapeutic space, supplies and equipment and ensure they are kept in a clean, orderly and safe condition.
• Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients.
• Demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.

• Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.
• Act as a patient advocate and assure patient rights are upheld.
• Report therapeutic services charges daily, substantiating any changes in the treatment notes.
• Attend program meetings and maintain related records.
• Provide direction, education, and in‑service to other unit personnel regarding activity therapy.
• Participate in performance improvement activities (i.e., IM services, conferences or seminars).
• Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities, delegating duties to other personnel as appropriate, and demonstrating good judgement when making decisions.
• Adhere to facility, department and corporate personnel policies and procedures.
• Attend all mandatory facility in‑services and staff development activities as scheduled.
• Support facility‑wide quality / performance improvement goals and objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

• Model and teach appropriate social skills.
• Teach coping skills and stress management techniques to patients.
• Carry out teaching activities identified in the treatment plan.

• Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to therapy, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives as appropriate and necessary.
• Contribute to treatment plan with specific goals and interventions to be achieved in therapeutic.
• Complete Master Treatment Plan within 72 hours of admission with patient‑specific goals and interventions listed.

• Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
• Maintain knowledge of children' stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in…