Demo

DIR - RECREATION/ACTIVITY THER

The Ridge Behavioral Health System
Lexington, KY Full Time
POSTED ON 6/3/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/27/2026
Responsibilities:

Job Description

Activity Therapist Director (Full-Time)


The Ridge Behavioral Health System is a 110-bed hospital offering psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment for children, adolescents, and adults.


Our specialized treatment services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of highly trained psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, addiction counselors, nurses, and activity therapists.


The Ridge Behavioral Health System prides itself as being the only free-standing psychiatric hospital in the Central Kentucky area. We have provided behavioral health services to over 92 Kentucky counties for over 39 years.


https://ridgebhs.com


The Recreational Therapy Director
is responsible for developing and implementing various aspects of the recreational therapy program based upon each unit's needs and demographics. Supervision of staff including scheduling, annual reviews and maintaining job descriptions, performance evaluations, and other job specific competencies. Attending required management meetings and professional committees is important.

Provides appropriate crisis intervention as necessary by anticipating and responding quickly to escalating behaviors, utilizing de-escalation techniques to diffuse the situation, correctly prioritizing safety concerns.

Uses appropriate counseling skills by de-escalating aggression, using active listening skills, using appropriate tone and volume of voice, providing a high frequency and variety of positive reinforcements, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and promoting a positive peer culture. Follows and abides by company policies, procedures, and Corporate Compliance Program, as applicable to role and responsibilities.

This opportunity is
a full-time, exempt position and offers full benefits.


  • Job Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Supervises employees of the Recreational department to ensure assigned duties are complete.
  • Follow up on employee issues and provide corrective action or counseling with employees as needs arise.
  • Cooperates actively with Human Resources to recruit department staff.
  • Ensures recreational therapy staff completes chart documentation within the required timeframes.
  • Ensures recreational therapy staff provide therapy consistent with departmental philosophy, patient treatment goals, and consistent with age and programming.
  • Controls staffing according to budget guidelines and/or census fluctuations; completes monthly scheduling.
  • Provides appropriate crisis intervention as necessary by anticipating and responding quickly to escalating behaviors, utilizing de-escalation techniques to diffuse the situation, and correctly prioritizing safety concerns.
  • Uses appropriate counseling skills by de-escalating aggression, using active listening skills, using appropriate tone and volume of voice, providing a high frequency and variety of positive reinforcements, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and promoting a positive peer culture.
  • Supervises all RT treatment areas including the RT room, gym, pool, and basketball court.
  • Actively participates in treatment team meetings and other clinical management meetings and committees.
  • Conducts activity therapy assessments and integrates into treatment planning and patient records.


Benefits Highlights

  • Challenging and rewarding work environment
  • Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
  • Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
  • 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
  • SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
  • Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300 Subsidiaries!


About Universal Health Services:



One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues were $13.4 billion in 2022. During the year, UHS was again recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; and listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 94,000 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located all over the U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. www.uhs.com


Qualifications:

Qualifications


Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation required.

Experience
  • Previous mental health experience 3-5 years preferred.
  • Inpatient psychiatric/substance abuse experience preferred.

Certifications/Licensure
  • Certification as a CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist) required or LPAT (Licensed Professional Art Therapis) or MTBC (Music Therapist Board Certified).
  • Crisis intervention training is required. This training is offered upon hire.
  • CPR

Other Skills
  • Written and oral communication skills.
  • Skills in leading therapeutic recreational groups for all ages.
  • Skills in time management.
  • Knowledge of acute psychological disorders, and advanced principals of abnormal psychology.
  • Skills in maintaining information as highly confidential.
  • Must demonstrate the ability to treat all age populations as needed or have the capacity to develop skills through the organization’s cross-training, orientation program.
  • Ability to clearly summarize pertinent clinical information via written correspondence and medical records documentation.


EEO Statement


All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.


Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams


At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.


If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

Pay Transparency:

To encourage pay transparency, promote pay equity, and proactively address regulations, UHS and all our subsidiaries will comply with all applicable state or local laws or regulations which require employers to provide wage or salary range information to job applicants and employees. Salary offers may be based on key factors such as education and related experience.

Salary : $13

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