Recreational Therapist

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The HARRIS CENTER") is looking for a Recreational Therapist to join our team. Under the general direction of the Program Manager 6 or Designated Supervisor, this position is responsible for providing recreational activities for patients in a behavioral health setting serving youth between the ages of 13 -17 both male and female. The behavioral health setting is a 24-hour Crisis Respite unit with a maximum stay of 10 days.

Your Role in Action:

Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

What you will do:

• Assist patients in understanding and developing good health and fitness through retraction therapy
• Implementing therapeutic recreation programs
• Maintain all recreation therapy equipment
• Complete assessments, treatment plans, and all applicable documentation accurately and timely
• Meets divisional productivity standards as outlined in the mental health division's operational guidelines
• Completes/Authorizes consumer's service plan/level of care assignment to address identified needs and ensures linkage to related
• Completes reporting in an accurate and timely manner as designated by the contract and TAC standards
• Advocates for patients to ensure that needs are met both within the Harris Center for MH and IDD and in the community.
• Communicates and works with patients/families/visitors/other staff in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of cultural diversities
• Performs related work as assigned and adapts to changing work

What qualifications you will need:

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) or equivalent . Bachelor's Degree in a mental health-related field therapeutic recreation, music therapy, art therapy, or dance therapy
• Current state licensure as a CTRS, MT-BC, ATR, or DMT
• Assessment and evaluation experience
• Current CPR and HWC certifications (provided in NEO).
• 2 years working in the field of mental health preferred
• Must have basic understanding of what mental illness is, common signs and symptoms and able to identify difficulties with coping in community settings.
• Ability to plan and meet deadlines
• Must be able to visually observe patient/client needs
• Possesses the ability to work productively and effectively
• Strong communication skills, listening and interpersonal skills above average; written documentation is clear, concise, well-constructed and grammatically correct
• Able to work collaboratively with others in a teamwork environment. Effective time management and organizational skills
• Able to execute standard word processing and Excel software on the computer
• Able to teach consumers both in the classroom and by example

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching - a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What else you should know:

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About us:

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.