Senior Recreation Therapist

Manhattan Psychiatric Center (MPC), an Office of Mental Health (OMH) Joint Commission accredited facility, is recruiting a Senior Recreation Therapist to join their Transition to Home (THU) team. The THU team provides a multi-disciplinary approach to care for individuals who have a history of homelessness. The goals of the THU team are to develop personalized treatment plans for active rehabilitation and reintegration to the community.

As a Senior Recreation Therapist at MPC, you are a vital member of the THU team focused on providing recreation therapy services including :

• Modifying activities based on the individuals’ physical activity and rehabilitative needs
• Observing and recording individuals’ progress, responses, and behaviors
• Maintaining records and documentation in accordance with program standards and requirements
• Designing and administering individual and group programs

About MPC :

MPC is a comprehensive, community-based mental health facility serving individuals who are 18 years or older, from the Manhattan and Greater NYC Region. MPC’s focus on evidence-based, person-centered, and culturally sensitive treatment helps their patient achieve their recovery goals.

If you would like to join the MPC Team and contribute to a workforce dedicated to public service, we offer a generous benefits package including :

Minimum Qualifications :

Candidates from outside or within State Service can be considered for hire under the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement – Statewide (NY HELPS) program as a Senior Recreation Therapist if they have either :

A bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation; AND two years of post-degree professional experience in planning and administering a therapeutic program which involved developing and coordinating therapeutic activities for a geriatric population, or individuals with intellectual and / or developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, addiction, or substance use disorders;

OR

A master's degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation; AND one year of post-degree professional experience as described above.

Substitution : Licensure and current registration as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York State; certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); registration as an Art Therapist with the American Art Therapy Association; registration as a Dance / Movement Therapist with the North American Dance Therapy Association; certification as a Music Therapist by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT); and registration as a Registered Drama Therapist by the North American Drama Therapy Association can substitute for one year of post-degree professional experience.

Additional Comments :

The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

In order to be hired and to maintain your employment, candidates cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and / or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists. If appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists, you may be terminated from your employment.

If appointed, you may be required to become an enrolled Medicare provider; obtain and provide to your employer a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number issued by the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES); and otherwise actively participate to the degree necessary to allow for your services to be billed through Medicare and Medicaid. If you are appointed and you lose the ability to bill through Medicare and Medicaid, you may be terminated from your employment.

Background checks are required.

This position is eligible for a Downstate Adjustment of $4,000.