Activity Assistant

Activity Assistant at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital - Part-time

Methodist Health System, the region's most established not-for-profit provider, has partnered with Acadia Healthcare, the nation's largest standalone behavioral health company, to open a new 96-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This marks Acadia's first acute psychiatric facility in Iowa, expanding much-needed access to behavioral health services across Southwest Iowa and the Greater Omaha area. Just minutes from downtown Omaha, Council Bluffs blends small-town charm with city convenienceoffering affordable living, great schools, and a strong sense of communitymaking it an ideal location for this important new facility.

Opened in June 2026, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care for adults, seniors, and youth, including programs for mood disorders, dual diagnosis, geriatric psychiatry, child & adolescent care, PHP/IOP, and ECT. The facility will play a vital role in addressing the region's significant behavioral health bed shortage.

What Would You Do in This Role?

Assist with planning, developing, organizing, implementing and directing individual and group activities/recreation within the facility.

Essential Functions:

• Organize, lead and promote interest in recreational activities to patients and their families.
• Serve as a resource for new patients introducing them to other patients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation.
• Explain the rules of activities and instruct participants at a variety of skill levels.
• Document activity interventions and patient progress in the medical record per facility documentation requirements.
• Seek supervision and support when complications arise in dealing with a patient either in an individual or group setting.
• Enforce safety rules to prevent injury and modify activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
• Organize and set up the equipment that is used in recreational activities.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Other Functions:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's degree in activity therapy or related field preferred.
• Previous experience in recreation in a healthcare setting with knowledge of patient population served by the facility also preferred.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications:

• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.