Therapeutic Activities Manager - Danville State Hospital

As a Therapeutic Activities Manager with Danville State Hospital, you will help shape patient experiences that inspire progress and personal development. This position allows you to guide staff, strengthen programs, and support a therapeutic setting that values each individual. Your efforts will help ensure that activities are safe, engaging, and aligned with recovery goals. Become part of a team that promotes wellness, creativity, and meaningful patient participation!

This position manages the Therapeutic Recreation Department and ensures that activities support patients' recovery, safety, and emotional well-being at Danville State Hospital. As a Therapeutic Activities Manager, you will perform the following duties:

• Program Leadership: Oversee therapeutic recreation services and ensure compliance with standards and patient needs
• Activity Evaluation: Review the effectiveness of activities and adjust programs to support recovery-oriented and culturally responsive care
• Staff Supervision: Direct staff hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation to maintain high levels of service
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with treatment teams to create and support individualized therapeutic activity plans
• Documentation Oversight: Ensure accurate and timely documentation of activities, patient participation, and staff records
• Safety Monitoring: Observe activity areas, manage equipment needs, and respond appropriately to behavioral concerns

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch. This may change based on operational needs.
  • Occasional evening, weekend, or holiday coverage may be required based on departmental needs.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• FREE parking!
• 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:

• One year of experience as a Therapeutic Activities Supervisor (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Three years of professional experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with physical, medical, or cognitive disabilities, one of which must be supervisory; and 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 that includes one year of professional supervisory experience providing therapeutic activities for individuals with physical, medical, or cognitive disabilities.

• 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.

• 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.