Recreation Therapy Intern

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy

Job Posting closes: February 20, 2026

Agency Information: Adair Acute Care at Osawatomie State Hospital

About the Position

Who can apply: Anyone

Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified

Full-Time/Part-Time: Part-Time

Regular/Temporary: Temporary

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Eligible to Receive Benefits: No

Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes

Search Keywords: Activity Specialist, Recreation Specialist, Leisure and Fitness, Recreation Therapy

Compensation: $

TEMPORARY additional differential of $2.50/hr for all hours worked

• Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Osawatomie State Hospital is licensed by the State of Kansas to provide care and treatment for adults diagnosed with psychiatric disorders regardless of ability to pay. There are currently two hospitals on the Osawatomie campus in Miami county: Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH) and Adair Acute Care (AAC). Adair Acute Care are a 60-bed facility, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

All employees are expected to work in a harmonious and cooperative fashion with other staff to provide efficient and effective customer service: to use free time as available to assist other staff in the completion of work assignments and perform other tasks as needed; to contribute to a positive work environment through a positive, helpful, courteous demeanor towards staff, customers and the general public; and to adhere to appropriate standards of conduct regarding the use of leave, reports to work on time and in the designated fashion.

The purpose of the Recreation Therapy Intern position will consist of specialized inpatient therapeutic services for adults with acute mental illness (Adair Acute Care at Osawatomie State Hospital). The primary contributions of the Recreation Therapy Intern may include assessment, planning, and developing an individualized treatment plan that identifies goals and evidence-based recreation therapy or expressive therapy treatment intervention strategies as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team; and provision of individual and group therapy interventions as part of treatment for patients on units with supervision of CTRS.

The essential functions of this position may require physical strength to frequently push, pull, twist, bend, squat, walk, stand for extended periods of time, lift and/or restrain residents with or without assistance and respond to aggressive resident behavior with specific, trained techniques. Be able to observe and respond to residents in distress.

Osawatomie State Hospital Adair Acute Care is funded in part by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is subject to requirements bestowed by Federal and State levels of government conditions of participation.

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The Recreation Therapy Intern will complete a minimum 560-hour, fourteen (14) week internship in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis and under the supervision of both academic and agency internship supervisors who are NCTRC CTRS certified. If selected for a student internship, student placements will consist of specialized inpatient therapeutic services for adults with acute mental illness (Adair Acute Care at Osawatomie State Hospital). The primary contributions of the Recreation Therapy Intern may include: assessment, planning, and developing an individualized treatment plan that identifies goals and evidence-based recreation therapy or expressive therapy treatment intervention strategies as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team; and provision of individual and group therapy interventions as part of treatment for patients on units with supervision of CTRS.

Time will be allocated for assessment of assigned patient caseload and attending treatment team meetings to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient assigned. The Recreation Therapy Intern will identify goals and evidence-based recreation therapy treatment intervention strategies for each patient assigned. Treatment plans for assigned patient caseload will be updated weekly and as needed.

Time will be allocated for the Recreation Therapy Intern to provide recreation therapy or expressive therapy interventions for groups and individual sessions. Group and individual recreation therapy services are used for patients to be able to participate in meaningful and functional leisure activities, in adjustment to mental health illness, upon discharge. Recreation therapy treatment includes a variety of treatment programs that promote functional abilities related to leisure; promote the acquisition and application of leisure-related skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; and provide opportunities to utilize leisure interests for improvement of healthy, independent, and successful leisure lifestyle. Maintain ongoing contact and build rapport with all patients on assigned area to determine response to treatment. Encourage patients to participate in treatment schedule. Groups are reviewed for quality through direct observation and discussion during supervisory meetings.

Documentation of patient contact is completed within an electronic medical record. This consists of weekly progress notes and group or individual progress notes for patients assigned. Weekly progress notes are expected to be completed prior to weekly review and must contain summarization of patients' goals including discharge criteria and short-term goals as well as participation in services and any updated recommendations for treatment. Treatment notes will consist of a short description and purpose of the recreation therapy activities used as interventions, the individuals' response to interventions with regards to their specific treatment goals, and plan with regards to their specific treatment goals.

Additional planning and scheduling duties may include coordinating recreation and leisure programs, special events, and meetings to ensure Recreation Therapy Intern acquires entry-level knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Determine leisure patterns, preferences, strengths, and patients' recreation therapy goals using assigned leisure screenings and medical records and assessments.
• Provide input into the Treatment Team process by making clinical judgements based on patient's treatment progress. Treatment plans for assigned patient caseload will be updated weekly and as needed.
• Provide recreation therapy groups and individual interventions that promote functional abilities related to leisure; promote the acquisition and application of leisure-related skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; and provide opportunities to utilize leisure interests for improvement of healthy, independent, and successful leisure lifestyle.
• Write weekly progress notes for patients assigned. Weekly progress notes are expected to be completed prior to weekly review and must contain summarization of patients' goals including discharge criteria and short-term goals as well as participation in services and any updated recommendations for treatment.
• Write treatment notes for assigned groups and individual contacts. This consists of a short description of recreation therapy interventions, the purpose of the intervention, the individual's response to interventions with regards to their specific treatment goals, and plan with regards to their specific treatment goals.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Enrollment in a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in (a) therapeutic recreation (recreation therapy); (b) recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation; (c) therapeutic recreation, recreation, or leisure in combination with other fields of study (e.g., Therapeutic Recreation and Health Studies; Recreation and Sport Management; Leisure and Tourism); and (d) a major in another field of study with a concentration/emphasis/sub-plan/option/minor/certificate in recreation therapy/therapeutic recreation.

Preferred Qualifications: Majority of the required therapeutic recreation coursework must be completed. The majority of the therapeutic recreation content coursework is defined as no less than 12 semester or 16 quarter hours of therapeutic recreation content coursework. A content course is generally interpreted as having a theoretical and/or philosophical focus of study. Skill, activity, practicum, or internship courses are not accepted as content courses.

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How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE):Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

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Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

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PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to , or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator

Office of Personnel Services

Docking State Office Building

915 SW Harrison Ave, Suite 260

Topeka, KS 66612

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.

Salary : $3