Activity Therapy Specialist 2

Schedule: Full-time

Who We Are…

Guided by a single mission “To reduce recidivism among those we touch,” the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction believes that everyone is capable of positive change. Our staff embrace these core values and serves as role models for pro-social behavior conveying an attitude of dignity and respect in the treatment of others.

What We Do…

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has been tasked with front line crime reduction through rehabilitative treatment and programming efforts provided in a safe, secure and humane correctional environment and effective community supervision. Our goal is to protect the public through helping individuals turn away from crime and become productive, contributing members of our communities, ensuring a safer Ohio for all Ohioans now and in the future.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at

Are You Ready?

We are thrilled to see that you are interested in beginning your career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction! Without a doubt, this will be the most rewarding and meaningful work you’ll ever find with a work family that is second to none!

What You’ll Do:

Plans, organizes, conducts and ensures implementation of clinical adjunctive therapy program/services for inmates assigned to residential treatment units

Directs and monitors all aspects of psychiatric patient day-to-day activities

Promotes self-care and physical and mental well-being

Provides direction and assistance in the care, treatment and /or programs to inmates

Carries out inmate or group treatment delineated by the multidisciplinary treatment team

Promotes activities to inmates on and off the unit to include encouraging interaction and /or involvement

Monitors and instructs treatment plan programs to inmates in directing the care of personal hygiene and grooming (e.g., bathes, shaves, feeds and /or dresses patients) and assists as needed

Provides clinical lead work/work direction to lower-level activity therapy specialists

Provides direction to psychiatric inmates in regards to general behavior

Escorts psychiatric inmates to and from off-unit activities

Observes and monitors inmate activities and behavior and documents in progress notes on regular basis

Intervenes during crisis behavior to prevent inmate self-injury or injury to others

Assists with subduing of violent inmates

Attends to and monitors inmates

Recognizes unusual and /or threatening conditions and takes appropriate action.

Prepares and maintains work related documentation (e.g., records or evaluations of individual progress and /or involvement towards established goals of education or treatment plan, reports regarding equipment maintenance, completes requisitions and /or purchase orders for supplies and equipment, files on patient treatment plans, notes of unusual inmate behavior department log on attendance and participation of residents in program, inmate assessment and program proposals written by staff)

Assists in administering treatments as directed by the treatment/behavior plan

Facilitates treatment with appropriate interventions as decided by treatment team

Conducts one-on-one communication/interaction with inmates to address patient concerns and resolve problems

Leads and participates with inmates in activities, both on and off the unit

Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborates with other members of the treatment team

Reports any problems and /or unusual incidents directly to immediate supervisor as appropriate

Attends scheduled meetings

Completes quality assurance monitoring and documentation

Completes mandatory training and optional in-service programs

Performs various miscellaneous tasks as needed for contingencies on assigned units

Assists other departments (e.g., security, psychology) when necessary

Perform other duties as assigned

What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the available Ohio Med plans.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period. Length of eligibility period is dependent on union representation.

Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance

Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave

11 paid holidays per year

Childbirth/Adoption leave

Employee Development Funds

The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union-exempt employee or a union-represented employee.

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

Completion of associate degree in recreation or specialty area (e.g., music, art, drama, dance); 24 mos. exp. in activity therapy.

-Or completion of undergraduate core program in recreation, physical education or specialty area (e.g., music, art, drama, dance); 24 mos. exp. in activity therapy.

-Or bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation; completion of 1000 hour clinical practicum & certification by national council on therapeutic recreation certification; 24 mos. exp. in activity therapy.

-Or bachelor's degree in music therapy from an accredited institution approved by American Music Therapy Association (i.e., AMTA); completion of 6 mos., 1040 hour music therapy internship at an approved AMTA cite & board certification (i.e., MT-BC) by certification board for music therapists (i.e., CBMT); 24 mos. exp. in activity therapy.

-Or equivalent of the minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.

Job Skills: Therapy/Therapeutical Services, Behavioral Health, Basic Documentation, Programming, Professional, Confidentiality, Teamwork, Customer Focus, Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence.