Director of Activity Therapy (SCR)

at SC Regional Mental Health Hosp in Wichita, Kansas, United States

Job Description

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Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy

• Job Posting closes:  Open until Filled


• 
  Required documents uploaded by:  All required documents listed below must be attached to your application within 2 days of applying for your application to be considered complete.

Agency Information:  

South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital (SCR) is Kansas’s newest state psychiatric hospital and serves adults experiencing serious mental illness throughout south-central Kansas. Located in Wichita, SCR is a 104-bed facility committed to delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed care in a modern, recovery-oriented environment.

About the Position

Who can apply: Anyone

Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Work Schedule: M-F

Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes

Veterans’ Preference Eligible: Yes 

Disability Preference Eligible: Yes

Search Keywords: Director of Activity Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Art Therapy (SCR)

Compensation: $75,000-$85,000 Annually

* Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits

Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage

Sick & Vacation leave

Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave

Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)

Fitness Centers in select locations

Employee discounts with the STAR Program

Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary:  

The Director of Activity Therapy is responsible for the leadership, development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive therapeutic activity program for patients receiving behavioral health services. This position ensures activity therapy services promote recovery, improve functional abilities, enhance quality of life, and support individualized treatment goals. The Director provides administrative and clinical oversight of activity therapy staff, ensures regulatory compliance, manages departmental resources, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:  

Department Leadership & Management

• Direct, supervise, and evaluate all Activity Therapy department operations. 


• Develop departmental goals, objectives, and strategic initiatives aligned with hospital priorities. 


• Establish departmental policies, procedures, and standards of practice. 


• Ensure adequate staffing levels and scheduling to meet patient care needs. 


• Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, mentoring, and corrective action when necessary. 


• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.


• Participate in organizational committees and leadership meetings. Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard department staff. 


• Provide orientation and ongoing education. 


• Identify competency needs and ensure annual competency validation. 


• Encourage professional development and certification. 


• Promote employee engagement and retention.

Clinical Program Development

• Design and oversee therapeutic recreation and activity programming that supports recovery and individualized treatment goals. 


• Ensure programming is evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and age appropriate. 


• Develop specialized programming for various patient populations as appropriate. 


• Monitor program effectiveness using quality indicators and patient outcomes. 


• Continuously evaluate and revise programming based on patient needs and best practices.

Patient Care & Treatment Planning

• Ensure activity therapists complete timely assessments, treatment plans, interventions, and documentation. 


• Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, nursing, social work, therapy, and other disciplines in treatment planning. 


• Promote patient engagement through therapeutic groups and individualized interventions. 


• Monitor patient participation and therapeutic progress. 


• Ensure patient safety during all activity therapy services.

Confidentiality & Compliance

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding employee, patient, and organizational information. 


• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, organizational policies, and administrative procedures. 


• Demonstrate professionalism and discretion in all communications and interactions.

Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned including but not limited to ensuring the agency is adequately staffed during and immediately following natural and/or manmade disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and/or acts of terrorism. Assists other employees in the work unit in accomplishing assignments as necessary. 

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, Activity Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, or another related therapeutic discipline. 


• Five (5) years of experience in behavioral health, psychiatric, or therapeutic recreation services. 


• Three (3) years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience. 


• Current certification or licensure appropriate to discipline (such as CTRS or applicable state licensure). 


• Current CPR certification or ability to obtain upon hire. 

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, or a related field. 


• Experience leading activity therapy services within an inpatient psychiatric hospital. 


• Experience with Joint Commission surveys, CMS Conditions of Participation, and behavioral health regulatory compliance. 


• Experience with program development, quality improvement, and budget management.

Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a background check prior to employment.


• Must take and pass a pre-employment drug screening test.

Recruiter Contact Information

KDADS Human Resources Recruiter

503 S. Kansas Ave

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-296-0463

Fax: 785-368-6688

Email: KDADS.APPLY@ks.gov

Job Application Process

First Sign in or register as a New User.

Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.

Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page. *This information is included on all your job applications.

Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.

Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.

Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.

Email sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page

Notifications view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: How to Apply for a Job Instructions and How to Search for a Job Instructions"

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete

Upload these on the Careers – My Job Applications page

• Transcripts


• DD214 (if you are claiming Veterans Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Resume


• Cover Letter

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: How, What, & Where do I Upload Documents 

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas.  Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer.  A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law.   

If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you.  The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas.  The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue – Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans’ Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a “veteran”; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position.  The veterans’ preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job.  Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veterans Preference

How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person’s eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to Gustavo.Victoriano@ks.gov, or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Ave, Suite 260
Topeka, KS 66612

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.