Recreation Assistant

About the Role

Prairie View is seeking an energetic, adaptable, and compassionate Recreation Assistant to join our clinical support team in Newton, Kansas. In this role, you will lead therapeutic recreation and experiential activities for patients of all ages across our continuum of care—including our Inpatient Hospital, Addiction Treatment Center, Turning Point PRTF, Partial Hospitalization Program, Prairie View Day School, and outpatient services.

If you enjoy hands-on patient interaction, spending time outdoors, leading group activities, and working as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a difference through experiential therapy.

Key Responsibilities

Group Facilitation & Experiential Therapy

• Plan, facilitate, and supervise therapeutic recreation and experiential groups for children, adolescents, and adults across various inpatient and residential programs.

• Facilitate team-building and experiential activities on Prairie View’s Adventure Course, including occasional evenings or weekends as scheduled.

• Conduct recreational and activity-based patient assessments to tailor group initiatives to patient needs.

• Maintain equipment, safety gear, and physical grounds for the Recreation Department and Adventure Course.

Cross-Functional Team Support

• Maintain clinical flexibility and adapt quickly as program schedule needs change throughout the campus.

• Complete Case Management training to assist with patient case management duties during low-volume recreation periods.

• Provide floor support in a Mental Health Worker (MHW) capacity within Turning Point PRTF, the Inpatient Hospital, or the Addiction Treatment Center when needed.

Quality & Professional Development

• Complete clinical documentation and patient notes accurately and in a timely manner.

• Participate in staff meetings, clinical supervision, and ongoing professional development workshops.

• Maintain safety standards, infection control practices, and departmental policies to foster a safe, positive environment for staff and patients.

Minimum Education: 

• High School degree required;
  • First Aid certification preferred 
  • Must be CPR certified or certification obtained within 6 months of employment 
  • Must complete training in Experiential education within first 6 months of employment
  • Must complete training for Level I facilitator, verification through an ACCT approved vendor within the first 18 months of employment.
• Minimum Experience: Must have experience working with all ages
• Must have a good command of the English language, able to communicate verbally and in writing, in order to document and communicate therapeutically with patients and staff
• Must be able to read, understand, and comprehend
• Must be able to implement projects and activities which are treatment oriented and diagnostically appropriate
• Must be able to observe and interact with patients individually, in groups, and with their families
• Must have knowledge and ability to understand and care for the special needs and behaviors of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults
• Must be able to teach/demonstrate physical activities
• Must be able to monitor patient interactions/verbalizations for appropriateness
• Must be able to enforce guidelines consistently
• Must be able to stand (agile) for periods of up to one hour
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds • Must be able to stretch, squat, climb, and bend easily
• Must be able to get across campus with ease, often carrying supplies
• Must be proficient at basic keyboarding/word-processing skills
• Must be able to pass Kansas Bureau of Investigation Screen, Central Registry Screen, and DCF (Kansas Dept. for Children & Families, formerly SRS) background check