Therapeutic Activities Worker

The Gino Merli Veterans Center is seeking an activities professional ready and willing to enhance the lives of the men and women who served our great country. This role offers a chance to inspire individuals through meaningful and engaging activities. Your guidance will help residents stay active, motivated, and socially engaged. You will play a vital part in supporting residents as they build confidence and connect with others. Bring your energy and compassion to an agency committed to outstanding care. Come join the DMVA team!

Click here to learn more about the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

This position supports residents by leading planned and purposeful activities that encourage physical, mental, and social growth. The role promotes engagement and enhances each resident's ability to function at an optimal level. As a Therapeutic Activities Worker, you will perform the following duties:

• Safety Practices: Follow universal precautions and apply required protective equipment during all activities
• Activity Delivery: Implement planned sessions that strengthen residents' mental, spiritual, social, emotional, and physical abilities
• Program Support: Plan, organize, and assist with on and off site activities, including setup, transportation, monitoring, and documentation
• Resident Assessment: Assess individuals' functioning levels, strengths, needs, interests, and abilities for activity planning
• Team Collaboration: Participate in creating program plans, monitor progress, and report findings to the care team
• Instruction and Oversight: Guide non professional personnel and volunteers in conducting activities and using supplies and equipment

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• This position's hours can be flexed based on operational needs.
• Every other weekend and Off Holidays as scheduled.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• We offer a competitive salary and state benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance coverage; excellent vacation, sick, and holiday leave package; and retirement plan.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

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.
• 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.

• 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.