RECREATION THERAPIST Various Specialties

Job Description and Duties

These positions are for the Department of State Hospitals - Coalinga.

The Rehabilitation Therapist (Various Specialties) will receive clinical supervision from the Supervising Rehabilitation Therapist and administrative supervision from the Program Assistant in the Rehabilitation Services Department. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties but not limited to:

• Conduct and prepare written Rehabilitation Therapy Assessments/ evaluations.
• Participate in Treatment Plan meetings to review each patient’s progress towards community reintegration.
• Provide written documentation on patients’ progress pertaining to their rehabilitation therapy program
• Organize, plan and conduct rehabilitation therapy/leisure skill groups

***Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: 

Unless otherwise requested by the candidate, all communications and correspondence regarding this recruitment from our agency will be sent electronically via your CalCareers account and/or email listed on your State Application, STD. 678. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Special Requirements continued -

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

All Therapists: Completion of an approved clinical internship in the appropriate rehabilitation specialty in an approved hospital or rehabilitation center affiliated with the college. (Individuals who are registered or certified with the appropriate therapy association but who have not completed a clinical internship because it was not a component of the academic program at the time are required to have completed a minimum of two years' full-time paid experience in a clinical, residential, or community-based setting after receipt of the required degree to be admitted into the exam.)

Art: Possession of a Master's Degree in Art Therapy or in Art with emphasis in Art Therapy, or registration with the American Art Therapy Association, or eligibility for such registration.

Music: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in music therapy, or registration with the American Music Therapy Association, or eligibility for such registration.

Recreation: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in therapeutic recreation, or in recreation with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation, or certification as a registered recreator with specialization in therapeutic recreation by the California Board of Park and Recreation personnel, or the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, or eligibility for such certification.
Occupational: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in occupational therapy, or certification as an occupational therapist registered by the American Occupational Therapy Association, or eligibility for such certification.

This advertisement may also be used to fill future vacancies for positions that are of the same classification and same tenure/time base if the vacancy occurs while this job posting is active.

The employee is required to work any shift and schedule in a variety of settings throughout the hospital and may be required to work overtime and float to other work locations as determined by the operational needs of the hospital. All employees are required to have an annual health review and TB test or whenever necessary to ascertain that they are free from symptoms indicating the presence of infection and are able to safely perform their essential job functions.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

In order to be considered for this job vacancy, you must satisfy one of the following requirements:

1. BE LIST ELIGIBLE: Successfully complete the competitive State civil service exam pertaining to your appropriate specialization/classification - 
Recreational Therapist - Safety

Art Therapist - Safety 

Music Therapist - Safety

Occupational Therapist - Safety
OR 
2. BE TRANSFER ELIGIBLE: Have current employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable (employees who wish to be considered based on transfer eligibility must meet the minimum qualifications of the classification per DPA Rule 250), OR
3. BE REINSTATEMENT ELIGIBLE: Have obtained previous permanent employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. *Minimum qualifications will be verified prior to being scheduled for an interview.

Please provide proof of minimum qualifications with your application submission, which may include a copy of your unofficial college transcripts .

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Demonstrated ability to maintain professional therapeutic relationships with patients, to assist them with problem solving, and to teach/model principles of the norm of non-violence. Demonstrates good staff/patient boundaries and monitors and assists others to help them maintain theirs.

Ability to provide accurate and complete reports, and documentation in accordance with professional standards, hospital documentation policies, and State guidelines (MHDS).

This advertisement may also be used to fill future vacancies for positions that are of the same classification and same tenure/time base if the vacancy occurs while this job posting is active.

Coalinga State Hospital is accepting applications for this recruitment continuously. This advertisement will remain posted until the position(s) have been filled. Cut-off-date for this recruitment is as follows:

July 29, 2026

August 12, 2026

August 26, 2026

September 9, 2026

September 23, 2026

October 7, 2026

October 21, 2026

November 4, 2026

November 18, 2026

December 2, 2026
December 16, 2026
December 30, 2026

Applications will be processed by each established cutoff date. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and have eligibility by the application received date to be invited to participate in the next available scheduled interview and/or processed for conditional hire.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package. Details can be found on the California Department of Human Resources website:

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.