Secure Residential Activity Therapist

Come join a team of dedicated and compassionate staff at our 16-bed state-of-the-art Secure Residential Facility in Essex, Vermont. You will play an essential role in the person-centered treatment of adults with severe mental illness. The facility is over 17,000 square feet with a separate full-size gymnasium.

This position will be responsible for providing oversite and facilitating therapeutic groups and activities at River Valley Therapeutic Residence and out in the community. Additionally, this position will support other staff by ensuring that they have the resources to effectively facilitate groups and activities. Other duties will include oversite of the facility work program for residents, attend multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, collect data to inform future groups/activities being offered, oversite of therapeutic group documentation, and provide trainings during new staff orientation. This position will be very active with supporting community outings.

Mission:
The River Valley Therapeutic Residence (RVTR) aims to improve the health and well-being of Vermont's most vulnerable populations while focusing on psychiatric rehabilitation services and psychosocial treatment delivered in a recovery oriented, trauma informed, person-centered, holistic environment. The program offers a safe space to focus on recovery and community integration for those individuals no longer needing hospital level of care but who are not yet ready to transition back to the community. The State of Vermont offers outstanding employee benefits and generous paid time off as well as opportunities for professional development.

This position, Secure Residential Activity Therapist (Job Requisition #53635), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact kattie.lafontaine@vermont.gov
Please note that multiple positions in the same work location may be filled from this job posting.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.

Candidates, including current State employees seeking transfer, promotion, demotion, or persons exercising re-employment rights, must pass a fingerprint supported background investigation applicable to the position. Additionally, in accordance with AHS Policy 4.02 - Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates. Hiring managers will notify applicants who are in the final stage of the interview process of the finger-printing and background check requirement, to which an applicant must agree to be deemed eligible for this position. Applicants will have the right to withdraw their applications before finger-printing and/or a background investigation is conducted.

Employees regularly interact with individuals experiencing serious mental illness, who present with various levels of risk to self or others such as assaultive behavior, elopement risk, self-harm, suicide; and may be exposed to infectious diseases and caustic detergents.

Two (2) years or more providing therapeutic group activities.

As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State's employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.