County of Sacramento

Class Title: Activities Therapist

Class Code: 27611

Salary: $27.66 - $32.01 Hourly
$2,212.80 - $2,560.80 Biweekly
$4,812.84 - $5,569.74 Monthly
$57,754.08 - $66,836.88 Annually

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Description Benefits
Under direction, plans and performs therapeutic rehabilitation activities and functional life skills assessments for patients with a psychiatric or co-occurring disorder by using the principles and practices of recreation therapy. Activities Therapists work as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Positions in this class are used in a psychiatric facility. Incumbents provide opportunity for patients to rehabilitate or improve their disabilities through various treatment methods. The Activities Therapist class is distinguished from the Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, and the other professional therapist journey-level classes, in that the Activities Therapist provides services to patients whose disorders are due mainly to mental disability while the other therapy classes provide services to children with physical disabilities. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Incumbents perform duties under direction, and are not responsible for supervising other staff.
Examples of Duties, Knowledge, and Abilities:
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary team and provides input as to the patients’ level of participation and behaviors during activities for team reports, case conferences, or meetings in which specific patient problems are discussed. 2. Plans and organizes activities such as arts and crafts, adapted sports, personal hygiene and self-care. The program content is regulated according to patients’ capabilities, needs, and interests. 3. Leads activities and teaches patients skills and techniques required for participation in activities. 4. Prepares and sets up work materials and supplies and assists in maintenance of equipment. 5. Conducts activities for individuals and groups. 6. Provides functional assessments of living skills as requested by treatment team/psychiatrist. 7. Records progress notes in patient charts. 8. Maintains liaison with various community groups to enlist their participation in recreation therapy activities for patients. 9. Performs related duties as assigned. EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS Knowledge of • principles and techniques of recreation therapy as applies in an acute care psychiatric facility • basic characteristics of mental and emotional disorders, appropriate assessment techniques for planning and delivering recreation therapy services • a variety of individual and group facilitation techniques • basic medical and psychiatric terminology • basic regulations governing the treatment of people in psychiatric health facilities. • principles and practices of community mental health, with emphasis in the interrelationship between public and community agencies in a coordinated service delivery system. Ability to • conceptualize and plan appropriate recreation therapy programs for patients with mental disabilities • adapt treatment programs by graduating tasks to meet patient’s level of function • work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team • use basic medical and psychiatric terminology • lead and instruct patients in recreational and social activities • communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Minimum Qualifications:
License Certificate Registration Requirement: 1. Current certification as a Recreation Therapist by either the a) California Board of Recreation and Park Certification, or b) National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. OR 2. Current license as an Occupational Therapist by the Occupational Therapy Board of California. OR 3. Completion of a bachelor’s degree program that meets the requirements for a Recreation Therapist certificate issued by either the a) Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification; or b) National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification OR 4. Completion of a bachelor’s degree program that meets the requirements for an Occupational Therapist license issued by the Occupational Therapy Board of California. Failure to maintain the appropriate certification or registration may constitute cause for dismissal from the class under applicable Civil Service Rules. Failure to obtain the required certificate or license within six months from the appointment date constitute cause for dismissal from the class under applicable Civil Service Rules Criminal History and Background Check The County will access criminal history information on all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for the above job class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedure B-5 and applicable federal and state law. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate’s ability to perform the job duties of this class it is determine that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained. The County will also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within the class. The background check may include personal and professional references checks, credit history check, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act. Child and Elder Abuse Reporting Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 and 11160 of the California Penal Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.
Probationary Period and Class History Information:
Six (6) months Adopted: 5/26/83 Revised: 6/3/92, 01/07/05 Class Code: 27611 Schematic Code: 59171-0 EEO Code: 02 Rep Unit: 007