Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced individual for the position of Rehabilitation Therapist 1 (Therapeutic Recreation) to join our team.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
• Division: Patient Central Services
• Location: Middletown, CT
• Schedule: Part-time, 32 hours per week, 1st shift, Wednesday - Saturday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
• PCN: 136802

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Benefit offerings will vary with part-time positions.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a compassionate, motivated professional who is passionate about helping individuals build the skills needed for successful community reintegration.

This position plays a vital role in providing active rehabilitation treatment through therapeutic recreation interventions, leading and co-leading treatment groups, implementing rehabilitation activities and programs, completing required rehabilitation assessments, documenting patient progress and responses to treatment, evaluating patient functioning, communicating observations to the interdisciplinary treatment team, and providing therapeutic skills training through individual and group interventions.

The ideal candidate is dedicated to patient-centered care, values collaboration, possesses strong clinical and documentation skills, and is committed to supporting patients in achieving their recovery goals while maintaining compliance with active treatment and assessment requirements.

MORE ABOUT US:

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

CVH's vision and mission is to promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe, healthy, and caring environment. We provide trauma informed gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life and return to the community.

Please note:

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.

All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
• This employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for the evaluation, planning and application of a recognized therapeutic discipline to provide treatment for individuals with an intellectual disability, emotional disabilities and physical disabilities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Evaluates individual level of functioning by assessing behavior and reviewing medical, social and emotional case histories;
• Writes and implements treatment plans using a specific modality;
• Conducts individual and group activities, consulting with other professionals and selecting appropriate techniques and materials to teach skills to correct disorders in intellectual, emotional or motor status of an individual;
• Attends case conferences, actively participating in admission, treatment and discharge planning;
• Observes, records and evaluates individual progress;
• Participates in or assists in conducting training programs for staff therapists and rehabilitation and nursing students;
• Uses data from observation and diagnostic evaluations to develop goals and new activities;
• Administers and interprets evaluations in specialty areas;
• Requisitions and distributes supplies;
• Adapts musical, art and recreational equipment used in designated discipline;
• May attend workshops and conferences;
• May transport and escort individuals to off grounds activities;
• May perform prevocational activities with individual;
• May participate in and plan special activities within community;
• May perform duties in individual home or community setting;
• May serve as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• principles and practices of the therapeutic recreation discipline;
• physical and intellectual disorders;
• individual and group dynamics;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Skill in application of therapeutic techniques.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of professional experience in a professional rehabilitation therapeutic recreation program performing such activities as program evaluation, planning and application for individuals with an intellectual disability, emotional disabilities and physical disabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in a recognized therapeutic recreation discipline may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience conducting individual and group treatment in a behavioral health and substance use inpatient treatment setting.
• Experience recording and evaluating client progress including completion of assessments.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and maintain a certificate as a Water Safety Instructor (WSI), and/or lifesaving (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid) from the American Red Cross.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in use of American Sign Language in certain positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury and to moderately disagreeable job conditions while providing treatment to individuals with disabilities.