DEPTARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES

Address:
Arizona State Veterans Home - Tucson
555 East Ajo Way
Tucson, Arizona 85713

Salary: Up To $20.35/hourly (DOE) 

Grade: 17

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Veterans thrive? At the Arizona Department of Veterans Services (AZDVS), we are committed to serving and honoring Veterans, Service Members, and their families by ensuring that they receive the highest quality services so that they can thrive for a lifetime!

We are looking for a compassionate Recreational Therapist.

Your rewards:
• Incomparable Benefits: Our program provides the opportunity to receive a pension and healthcare benefits for a lifetime!
• Meaningful Work: Your dedication will directly enhance the lives of veterans and their family members, providing them with the care and respect that they deserve.
• Professional Growth: You will have the opportunity to engage in continuous learning and improvement through the Arizona Management System (AMS).

Your contribution:
• Outstanding Service: Provide the best assistance to veterans to improve their quality of life.
• Continuous Improvement: Participate in facility meetings, training sessions, and the implementation of the Arizona Management System (AMS) to achieve continuous improvement and efficiency
• Team Collaboration: Work with other professionals to improve your knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Plan and develop therapeutic recreation programs
• Develop a monthly recreation calendar and maintain Activities/ Recreational Therapy bulletin board
• Purchases items needed for planned programming
• Maintain a personal caseload of assigned Veterans/Members
• Conduct recreational therapy sessions with individuals and groups in accordance with established treatment plans and specific techniques to include special community events and involvement with the community and veteran service organizations
• Maintain appropriate clinical and administrative records regarding diagnosis, treatment, and summary of Veteran/Member progress
• Complete therapeutic recreation assessments, care plans, MDS, CAS modules, and daily attendance/progress notes
• Attend care plan meetings to participate in discussions and problem-solving processes
• Act as a guide and trip leader to ensure proper Veteran/Member participation and safety
• Be actively involved in AMS processes such as Huddle Boards, Problem Solving, Job Breakdown Sheets, Success Tracking, and Standardized work

Knowledge of:

• Rules, regulations, policies and procedures that govern the State of Arizona and Department of Veterans Services
• Principles, practices, and techniques of recreational therapy
• Methods used to accomplish therapeutic goals through recreational programs
• Community resources for recreational activities

Skill in:

• Applying recreational therapy techniques
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Basic computer skills

Ability to:

• Transport residents in State vehicle
  

• Must possess at minimum a Bachelor’s Degree OR professional certification; The degree must be in Therapeutic Recreation or a related field. Accepted certifications include; Certified Recreation Therapist (National Council for Therapeutic Recreation, or National Association of Activity Professionals) or Certified Music Therapist (Certification Board of Music Therapists) or Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. Certification must be valid upon hire or may be obtained within one year of placement into position.
• Must be able to obtain and retain a Fingerprint Clearance Card
• The possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license. Employees who drive on State business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see A.A.C. R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Paul Sharp at recruiting@azdvs.gov for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.