Rehabilitation Therapist 2 (Therapeutic Recreation) (37.5 Hour) Office/On-Site #260901-6896XC-001

About the Role

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is seeking a Rehabilitation Therapist 2 (Therapeutic Recreation) to join their team at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH). This role involves working as an integral member of an interdisciplinary service planning team, building positive therapeutic relationships, encouraging participation, strengthening client confidence, and helping individuals recognize and build upon their strengths. This is an opportunity to use therapeutic recreation expertise to create meaningful treatment experiences and make a lasting difference in the recovery of individuals receiving care.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic recreation and rehabilitation services that help clients develop skills, improve functioning, engage in meaningful activities, and progress toward recovery and community reintegration
• Complete rehabilitation assessments
• Evaluate client functioning and provide feedback to the treatment team
• Document client progress, participation, behaviors, and responses to treatment
• Lead and/or co-lead active treatment groups
• Develop and implement rehabilitation activities and programs
• Provide ongoing support and encouragement to clients throughout their treatment experience
• Select, plan, administer and implement therapeutic programs by utilizing specific therapy functions to teach skills to correct disorders in intellectual, emotional or motor status of individuals
• Write and implement treatment plans
• Plan, schedule and conduct individual and group activities
• Actively participate in admission, treatment and discharge planning of individuals
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings presenting cases and discussing future treatment goals and objectives
• Participate in institutional, professional and community groups and/or task forces
• Participate in staff meetings and on interdisciplinary committees
• Train and supervise staff and individuals in application of the discipline
• Provide in-service training to other staff
• Attend and participate in workshops and conferences
• Gather and use data from observation and diagnostic tests to develop goals and new activities
• Coordinate therapy services with other disciplines such as occupational or physical therapy
• Select appropriate materials and implement therapeutic programs to meet individual needs
• Maintain and order equipment
• Observe, record and evaluate individual progress
• May transport and escort individuals to community functions
• May teach direct care and paraprofessional staff in application of specific therapy
• May make adaptive equipment
• May serve as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional
• Perform related duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

Five (5) 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.

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.
• One (1) year of experience at the level of a Rehabilitation Therapist 1 (Therapeutic Recreation) or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting individual and group treatment in a substance use/behavioral health inpatient treatment setting
• Experience recording and evaluating client progress including completion of assessments
• Master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation
• Possess certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Schedule & Location

Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), Addiction Services Division (ASD), Merrit 3AB
Location: 39 Tynan Circle, Middletown, CT
Schedule: Full-Time, 37.5 Hours per Week, First Shift. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 8:30a-4:30p; Wednesday: 11:30a-7:30p

About the Facility & Unit

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 opened in 1868 as the State's public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness. Today, CVH is the largest of DMHAS facilities, and includes 17 inpatient units over two campuses (Middletown and Hartford). The hospital includes both general psychiatry and addiction services units. CVH provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment, including treatment for pregnant women and persons with dual diagnoses. Specialty areas include geriatric and special services, an integrated network of comprehensive mental health services for older adults and young adult services. The facility also runs the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program which addresses the needs of TBI survivors, including reintegration into community living, independent living skills development, vocational and educational training, psychiatric, cognitive and neurological assessment and treatment, speech and physical rehabilitation as well as individual and family counseling.

Merritt 3AB is a 30-bed rehabilitation unit providing American Society of Addiction Medicine (A.S.A.M.) level 3.7 intensive rehabilitation treatment. This unit specializes in trauma informed care, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and a variety of other clinical approaches to provide holistic care to the individuals served. A full range of medication-assisted treatment is also offered.