RECREATION THERAPIST 2 - 08112026-79929

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time08/11/2026 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time08/17/2026 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$3,631.00 - $5,434.00Salary (Annually)$43,572.00 - $65,208.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationChattanooga, TNDepartmentMental Health and Substance Abuse Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, HAMILTON COUNTY

This position is located at Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services, recreation, psychology, sociology, recreation therapy, education, allied health, or mental health/human services and experience equivalent to one year of full-time experience in recreation therapy or responsible professional experience in therapy, education or recreation work.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional graduate coursework from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation services, recreation, recreation therapy or education may be substituted for the required experience on a year for year basis.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying full-time experience in recreation, teaching, or in providing aid or assistance to disabled individuals may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years.

Necessary Special Qualifications: None.

Overview

Under general supervision, is responsible for professional recreation therapy duties of average difficulty; performs related work as required. An employee in this class plans and executes recreational activities, therapies, and programs. This class differs from Recreation Therapist 1 in that an incumbent of the latter performs work of a less complex nature. This class differs from Recreation Therapist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter supervises or assists a supervisor in planning a therapeutic program and may supervise a staff of recreation therapy personnel.

Responsibilities

• Identifies the needs, goals and objectives for individuals in recreational therapy utilizing individual assessments, observations, referrals, and inter-disciplinary team findings to ensure appropriate services are provided. Develops therapeutic treatment plans to ensure client outcomes are met.
• Implements behavior education systems with clients to ensure successful independent living skills by creating behavior change plans, providing individual behavior change interventions, and intervening as needed when behaviors violate the standards of conduct.
• Implements various recreational activities while following departmental and facility policy such as social interactions, anger management, healthy lifestyles, and other activities to assist in meeting desired outcomes.
• Assures departmental and facility policy is followed during implementation of recreational therapies to comply with state and federal law and accrediting bodies. Follows facility emergency response plans to ensure safety of clients and staff.
• Evaluates and assesses client progress to determine effectiveness of recreational therapies and assist in meeting client goals. Provides input and information to other therapists and inter-disciplinary teams regarding the effectiveness recreational therapy programs.
• Assists in training direct care staff and work with personnel to assist in carrying out therapeutic programs. Provides a teaching setting for interns to provide them with skills they will need for future employment.
• Records the progress and reactions of individuals engaged in recreational therapeutic activities to evaluate their advancement toward meeting desired outcomes. Completes recreational assessments within desired time-frames.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

• Cultivates Innovation
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Customer Focus

Knowledges:

• Therapy and Counseling
• Psychology
• Public Safety and Security
• Administration and Management
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills:

• Active Learning and Listening
• Monitoring
• Instructing
• Service Orientation
• Social Perceptiveness

Abilities:

• Prolonged Stamina
• Limb and/or Full Body Coordination
• Multilimb Strength
• Speech Clarity & Recognition
• Sound Localization

Tools & Equipment

• Computers
• Copier/Fax Machine
• Audio/Visual Equipment
• Wheelchair Lift
• Restraints

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.