Recreational Therapist - Behavioral Sciences Campus

UTHealth Houston's Behavioral Sciences Campus is hiring Recreational Therapists! Recreation Therapists use therapeutic activities to support patients' mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Our Recreation Therapists assess patient needs, develop individualized treatment plans, document patient progress through daily group notes, and facilitate groups focused on coping skills, stress management, leisure education, social interaction, self-expression, and wellness. Through evidence-based interventions, Recreation Therapists help patients build healthy coping strategies, improve functioning, increase engagement in treatment, and support recovery goals in a safe and therapeutic environment across many patient populations. Candidates with experience working in a multidisciplinary hospital setting and with psychiatric or behavioral health populations are preferred.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

Provides a role in treatment centered interventions through therapeutic recreation programs.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Develops recreational therapy programs to assist patients toward stabilization and developing healthier and productive lifestyles.
• Administers recreation activities to patient and instructs patient in the benefits of the activities in which they are participating.
• Maintains all documentation required for patient medical records.
• Contributing to the effort toward department's strategic goals and achievement programs.
• Develops structured programs that will offer the patient the opportunity to reduce stress, improve mood, increase activity level and social skills.
• Assesses and implements treatment plan goals, and outcomes related to the identified problems.
• Monitors and coordinates patient-care by collaborating with other direct care disciplines.
• Documents patient progress and patient attendance records through a computer-based program while complying with department documentation requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) required

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Texas Certified (TRS/TXC) by Consortium for Therapeutic Recreation/Activities Certification, Inc. (CTRAC) required

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Therapy, Leisure and/or Recreation Studies required

Minimum Experience:

1 year NCTRC Certified as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist required OR 2 years Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Texas Certified (TRS/TXC) required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.