Therapeutic Activities Worker - Norristown State Hospital
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Apply to Therapeutic Activities Worker - Norristown State Hospital at Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaJob details
- Location
- Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Work type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $53,008 - $80,646/yr
- Posted
- 3 days ago
- Apply on
- governmentjobs.com
About this role
About the Department
Are you inspired to bring encouragement and energy to patients who benefit from structured therapeutic activities? As a Therapeutic Activities Worker for the Department of Human Services, you will guide patients through activities that support emotional, social, and physical well-being at Norristown State Hospital. This position offers a chance to help people reconnect with hobbies, interests, and healthy routines. Step into a role where your creativity and support can brighten each day.
Position Duties
This role focuses on planning and leading therapeutic activities that help patients strengthen skills, express themselves, and take part in meaningful experiences. It supports patient progress through regular assessments, documentation, and teamwork with treatment staff. As a Therapeutic Activities Worker, you will perform the following duties:
- Activity Planning: Design and lead individual and group activities that match patient needs and interests
- Patient Assessment: Conduct assessments to understand patient abilities, strengths, and goals
- Progress Documentation: Monitor and record patient participation and progress in treatment records
- Program Support: Organize supplies, equipment, and space to support therapeutic programs
- Team Collaboration: Attend treatment team meetings and provide updates on patient progress
- Community Engagement: Assist patients in community re-entry programs to promote skill development
Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
- Work hours are 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch and rotating weekends. Your schedule may change based on operational needs.
- Travel and overtime: As needed
- Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
- Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
- You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
Minimum Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
- Four years of experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with physical, medical, or cognitive disabilities; or
- A bachelor’s degree with major coursework in therapeutic recreation; physical education; vocational rehabilitation; vocational education or counseling; art, music, dance, or occupational therapies; or a related human services field; or
- An equivalent combination of experience and training.
- Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.
Other Requirements:
- You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
- You must be able to perform essential job functions.
Legal Requirements:
- A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination.
- This position falls under the provisions of the Older Adult Protective Services Act.
- Under the Act, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including but not limited to, PA State Police and FBI clearance.
How to Apply:
- Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
- If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
- Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
- All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.
Veterans:
- Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
- 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
Other Qualifications
- Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
- Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
- Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
- You must provide complete and accurate information or:
- your score may be lower than deserved.
- you may be disqualified.
- You may only apply/test once for this posting.
- Your results will be provided via email.
Benefits
Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!
See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.
Health & Wellness
We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*
Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.
Work/Life Balance
We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*
Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.
Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.
For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.
*Eligibility rules apply.
Supplemental Questions
If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.
If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.
You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.
- Yes
- No
If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.
If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.
You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.
- 120 credits or more
- 90 but less than 120 credits
- 60 but less than 90 credits
- 30 but less than 60 credits
- Less than 30 credits
- None
- 4 years or more
- 3 but less than 4 years
- 2 but less than 3 years
- 1 but less than 2 years
- Less than 1 year
- None
All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.
Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.
If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.
If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.
- Yes
Develops and implements therapeutic activities goals and objectives as part of comprehensive individual treatment plans. Maintains administrative and clinical records of therapeutic activities services planned and provided to meet departmental requirements.
Levels of Performance
Select the “Level of Performance” which best describes your claim.
- a. I have experience developing and implementing THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES goals and objectives as part of comprehensive individual treatment plans AND maintaining administrative or clinical records of therapeutic activities services planned and provided to meet departmental requirements.
- b. I have experience developing and implementing goals and objectives as part of comprehensive individual treatment plans AND maintaining administrative or clinical records, in a field OTHER THAN therapeutic activities services.
- c. I have experience maintaining administrative or clinical records of services planned and provided.
- d. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to therapeutic recreation or vocational rehabilitation.
- e. I have NO experience or education related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- Your experience developing and implementing goals and objectives
- Your experience maintaining administrative or clinical records
- College/University
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Provides instruction, directions, and support to residents/adjudicated youth involved in therapeutic activities services to encourage progress in relation to treatment plan goals. Levels of Performance
Select the “Level of Performance” which best describes your claim.
- a. I have experience providing instruction, direction, or support to residents/adjudicated youth involved in therapeutic activities services to encourage progress in relation to treatment plan goals.
- b. I have experience providing instruction, direction, or support to residents/adjudicated youth in a group or home setting to encourage progress in relation to treatment plan goals.
- c. I have experience providing instruction, direction, or support to individuals OTHER THAN residents/adjudicated youth in therapeutic activities services or a group or home setting to encourage progress in relation to treatment plan goals.
- d. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to occupational therapy.
- e. I have NO experience or education related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- Your experience providing instruction, direction, or support
- To whom you provided instruction, direction, or support
- College/University
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Attends multi-disciplinary team meetings to recommend the use of specific therapeutic activities methods for individual treatment plans. Levels of Performance
Select the “Level of Performance” which best describes your claim.
- a. I have experience attending multi-disciplinary team meetings and recommending the use of specific therapeutic activities methods for individual treatment plans.
- b. I have experience attending multi-disciplinary team meetings in a field OTHER THAN therapeutic activities services and making recommendations.
- c. I have experience attending multi-disciplinary team meetings and reporting individuals progress in meeting activity goals and objectives.
- d. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- Your experience attending multi-disciplinary team meetings
- The field of the meetings attended
Directs and instructs volunteers in conducting individual and group therapeutic recreation activities for residents/adjudicated youth such as culinary activities, arts and crafts, gardening, physical activities and games, library activities, music appreciation activities, socialization activities, and off-ground activities. Plans and conducts facility-wide events, fairs, picnics, Special Olympics, and seasonal activities, for residents/adjudicated youth. Levels of Performance
Select the “Level of Performance” which best describes your claim.
- a. I have experience directing or instructing volunteers or other individuals in conducting individual or group therapeutic recreation activities for patients, AND planning or conducting facility-wide events for residents/adjudicated youth.
- b. I have experience directing or instructing volunteers or other individuals in conducting individual or group activities, OR planning or conducting facility-wide events for residents/adjudicated youth.
- c. I have experience directing or instructing volunteers or other individuals in conducting individual or group activities, OR planning or conducting facility-wide events for individuals OTHER THAN residents/adjudicated youth.
- d. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to culinary arts, art, or music.
- e. I have NO experience or education related to this work behavior.
- The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
- Your experience directing or instructing volunteers or individuals in conducting activities
- Your experience planning or conducting events
- College/University
- Course Title
- Credits/Clock Hours
Required Question
Agency Information
EmployerCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaAddress 613 North StreetHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120 Website http://www.employment.pa.gov