Recreation Therapist

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive - EMERGENCY EXAM NUMBER: Y5872N-DOJ FIRST DAY OF FILING: November 20, 2023 at 12:00 p.m., PT - Until the needs of the services are met and is subject to closure without prior notice. CORRECTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES – 20% RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BONUS The County of Los Angeles is currently offering up to 20% bonus for full-time Recreation Therapist II positions hired by Correctional Health Services and working on-site in a designated facility to meet critical healthcare needs for the uniquely underserved jail population. SPECIAL SALARY INFORMATION: Due to Critical Shortage Recruitment, new appointments and current incumbents shall be compensated at step 3 of the applicable salary range. This is in effect until June 30, 2024 or until it is determined that a shortage no longer exists, whichever is sooner. Los Angeles County is under a Department of Justice Consent Decree to improve conditions and mental health care in County jails, as well as supporting justice-involved populations post-release. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of providing a range of services both in the jail and community. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the justice-involved The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Recreation Therapist II vacancies related to the DOJ Consent Decree. Undertheemergencyorder,applicantswhomeettherequirementsmaybehiredforaninitialperiodofupto90days,with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Beforetheendofyourinitialworkperiod,youwillbeassessedonyourworkperformance.Thisassessmentwillbe weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Recreation Therapist II. ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY: The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. DHS operates as an integrated health system, operating 25 health centers and four acute care hospitals, in addition to providing health care to youth in the juvenile justice system and inmates in the LA County jails. Across the network of DHS' directly operated clinical sites and through partnerships with community-based clinics, DHS cares for about 500,000 unique patients each year, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual operating budget of 8.4 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing. MISSION: To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care. DEFINITION: Provides a full range of professional recreational therapy services to assist patients with mental or physical disabilities to attain, regain, or maintain physical, social, or mental functioning or to adjust to their disabilities. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this class receive general administrative supervision from higher-level recreation therapy supervisors or a Rehabilitation Therapy Chief, and clinical guidance from a higher-level recreation therapist. Comprehensive recreation therapy services are provided to patients in a range of settings such as acute medical, psychiatric, or rehabilitation hospitals or out-patient clinics. Incumbents assigned to clinics or centers in hospitals, or settings remotely located in mental health clinics provide comprehensive consultation and recreation therapy services coordination for patients with severe disabilities. Plans, organizes and directs a recreation therapy program designed to assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of hospital, clinic, or institutionalized patients or clients, or specifically defined patient populations, including conceptualization and demonstration projects. Supervises and conducts a variety of individual and group therapeutic recreational, social and physical treatment modalities and techniques Including therapeutic intervention, instruction, leadership and counseling techniques which focus on the restoration of physical, mental, and social capabilities. Selects, administers, analyzes, and interprets a variety of standardized and non-standardized assessment techniques of cognitive and social skills, affective behavior, and sensory motor integration to evaluate patients or clients; provides appropriate interventions requiring ongoing interpretation of assessment/re-assessment data which supports treatment goals and objectives. Defines recreation therapy goals and objectives and plans, develops and implements the recreation therapy programs through effective and efficient utilization of subordinate staff, recreation facilities and equipment and supplies. Contributes to the medical and rehabilitative services by participating in case, colleague and systems consultations, and serves on special committees representing recreation therapy in various hospitals, institutions, departmental, or community settings. Conducts and/or coordinates social/leisure discharge planning and community adjustment programs, and referral and patient-family education services to assist the patient or client in reintegrating into the community and utilizing community resources. Develops and maintains liaison with community agencies and recreation facilities to encourage their participation in recreation therapy and coordinate after care follow-up programs. Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of existing recreation therapy programs and services and revises or modifies the program in keeping with the changing needs of the patient and the inter-disciplinary team objectives. Documents treatment services in accordance with departmental, local, state, federal, and JCAHO regulations and regulatory standards. Delegates responsibilities and assigns treatment procedures to subordinate recreation therapy personnel and students, reviews their work and may prepare their performance evaluations. Orients new staff and members of inter-disciplinary team to therapeutic recreation procedures and the role of recreation therapy and provides on-going informal and formal in-service training to recreation therapy staff. Provides technical guidance to subordinate staff and students by instructing and training them in therapeutic methods and by recommending treatment modalities and intervention when appropriate. Evaluates current and future need for facilities, supplies and equipment, prepares and submits budget requests and follows through with ordering supplies and equipment. Attends and participates in professional conferences, seminars and workshops. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Graduation from an accredited college or university* with specialization in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation -AND- Two (2) years of experience in the practice of Recreation Therapy at the level of Recreation Therapist I**. A Master's degree* in Recreation Therapy or Recreation with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Current certification to practice as a Recreation Therapist issued by the California Board of Parks and Recreation Certification -OR- Current certification to practice as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist issued by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. A valid California Class B Driver License may be required for appointment to some positions in this class. Applicants must provide the certificate number in the Supplemental Questionnaire or attach a legible photocopy of the certificate issued at the time of filing. All required licenses and certifications must be active and unrestricted, or your application will not be accepted. Physical Class III – Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. You MUST meet the above requirements(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancy related to this recruitment. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: *In order to receive credit for the required degree, you must attach a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or an official letter from the accredited institution that shows the area of specialization at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach the required document, you must email it to View email address on click.appcast.io. Please include the exam number, exam title, and applicant ID number. Applications received without evidence of the required certificate or degree will not be considered nor accepted as meeting the stated requirements. **Experience at the level of Recreation Therapist I within the Los Angeles County is defined as: Performs professional recreation therapy services in acute medical, rehabilitation, or psychiatric hospitals, out-patient clinics, community health centers, mental health facilities, or institutional settings to enable physically, mentally, or socially disabled patients or clients attain, restore, or maintain physical, social, or mental functioning, or to adjust to their disability; serves as a member of an interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic treatment team. NO WITHHOLDS ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS EXAMINATION. APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF FILING. EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUBSEQUENT TO GRADUATION. OUT OF CLASS: County employees who wish to meet the requirements using out-of-class experience will be considered for this examination. Those claiming out-of-class experience should describe their out-of-class duties in detail in the Supplemental Questions sections of their application. Applicants are also encouraged to submit any supporting documentation such as out of class/additional responsibility bonuses, verification of experience documents, and performance evaluations in order to assist staff’s review of applicants' qualifications. OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS: Before the end of your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. VACANCY INFORMATION: The current vacancies are to be filled within Correctional Health. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT: ADA COORDINATOR PHONE: View phone number on click.appcast.io CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE: View phone number on click.appcast.io DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Martin Hernandez, Exam Analyst View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr