Coordinator, Activities Therapy, Behavioral Health

Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. No weekends or holidays.

About the role

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, operated jointly with Lifepoint Behavioral Health and Baystate Health, offers compassionate, high-quality inpatient and outpatient mental health and co-occurring treatment for teens, adults, and seniors. We provide a full range of evidence-based medical and clinical services in a state-of-the-art healing environment. Programs include inpatient mental health and co-occurring treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).

The Activity Therapy Coordinator serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based activity services to patients hospitalized for treatment of substance abuse, dual diagnosis, or psychiatric or emotional disorders. This role plans, organizes, and directs medically approved activity programs—including holidays and special events, social activities, relaxation techniques, music-based interventions, leisure educational games, and expressive arts—to assist patients in developing interpersonal relationships, increasing motivation, socializing effectively, and building confidence for group activities.

The Activity Therapy Coordinator regulates program content according to patients' capabilities, needs, interests, and treatment plans, and serves as the liaison between the Activity Therapy department and Clinical Services.

Responsibilities

• Applies appropriate theory and standards for decision-making regarding therapeutic practices.
• Assesses patient needs utilizing cultural, religious, and physical disabilities in determining capabilities in groups and with specific activities.
• Documents patient response to interventions pertinent to treatment on daily/weekly progress status.
• Completes all assessments within the allotted time frame and contributes to workload balance between therapists.
• Formulates initial and subsequent treatment programs in accordance with the attending physician’s/licensed practitioner’s treatment orders.
• Develops a plan of care with specific and measurable goals, objectives, and interventions unique to each patient’s needs.
• Provides therapy treatment procedures according to the treatment plan, communicating and working with the patient to achieve the greatest benefit and resolution.
• Maintains constant communication with the treatment team, therapist, and physician/licensed practitioner when a patient is not responding to treatments.
• Contributes to the effective functioning of the patient’s program, understanding age differences and corresponding developmental needs.
• Provides activities suitable to the patient’s needs and offers a variety of stimuli in accordance with the treatment plan.
• Maintains a quality program to satisfy the therapeutic needs of the patient, offering direction and education to maintain clear communication of expectations.
• Provides quality programming to support patient objectives and needs.
• Reassesses and updates treatment plan goals when there are significant changes in the patient’s condition or after a patient’s stay has exceeded 7 days.
• Contributes to treatment planning with feedback to clinical and program staff to achieve therapeutic interventions.
• Provides direction to clinical and unit staff regarding activity-related groups.
• Provides input into patient’s Activity Therapy goals to the treatment teams and records treatment updates on the treatment update form.
• Coaches and onboards other Activity Therapists to ensure performance standards under the guidance of the Director of Clinical Services (DCS).
• Coordinates workflows and schedules of other Activity Therapists as directed by the DCS.
• Coordinates and plans programming and treatment goals, ensuring material availability to meet plans.
• Maintains the Activity Therapy budget and orders supplies needed for group programming.
• Coordinates holiday and special event plans to encourage patient participation in groups.
• Works with the DCS in developing unit schedules, programming, and newsletters provided to patients daily.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute in Recreational Therapy (CTRS), Music Therapy (MT-BC), Art Therapy (ATR, ATR-BC, ATR-P, LPAT), or a similar field.
• Previous experience in a psychiatric healthcare facility, with direct experience working with chemical dependency, dual diagnosis, psychiatric, and geriatric patients preferred.
• Current unencumbered certification/license/registration required per state of practice guidelines.
• CPR certification and Crisis Prevention Training (CPI) within 30 days of hire.
• May be required to work flexible hours, holidays, and overtime.

Benefits

• Multiple levels of medical, dental, and vision coverage for full-time and part-time employees.
• Financial protection and paid time off: life, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid family leave, and paid time off.
• Financial and career growth: higher education and certification tuition assistance, loan assistance, and 401(k) retirement package with company match.
• Employee well-being: mental, physical, and financial wellness programs (free gym memberships, virtual care appointments, mental health services, and discount programs).
• Professional development: ongoing learning and career advancement opportunities.

Pay

$23.98 - $32.37 per hour.