A Recreational Therapist directs and coordinates recreational activities for people with disabilities or illness to help them improve their emotional and physical well-being, improve motor skills and increase confidence. Leads activities involving movement, sports, games, and other activities for brain stimulation. Assists patients with disabilities to learn to use public resources such as parks and public transportation, and integrate in the community. Works with people of all ages, in schools, nursing homes, clinics and other healthcare facilities, or in parks and recreation departments.
Norfolk, VA Job Details Part-time $18 - $23 an hour 18 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance Tuition reimbursement Employee assistance program Vision insurance 403(b) Opportunities for advancement Paid sick time Qualifications Youth recreational activities facilitation Therapeutic Recreation Recreation therapy Community partnership development strategy Group facilitation in therapy Client rapport building Mental health interventions Local agency collaboration Care documentation Mid-level Bachelor's degree Special events experience Resident rapport building CTRS Clinical interprofessional collaboration Adolescents Wellness activities for care recipients Multidisciplinary team collaboration for treatment planning Working with individuals with mental health conditions Experiential group therapy facilitation Social-emotional development (child development components) Residential therapy Child & youth therapy 2 years Communication skills Working with youth Coordinating resident events Group counseling Therapy progress note documentation Full Job Description We are seeking a passionate Part-Time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) to join our team. In this role, you will work alongside an interdisciplinary team to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate therapeutic activities and special events that provide meaningful recreation and leisure opportunities for our residents. This position is a key part of our comprehensive treatment approach, allowing you to directly impact the social, emotional, and recreational development of the youth we serve. We are a residential treatment program serving military-connected youth aged 11-17. Our beautiful Norfolk campus provides a safe and engaging environment where youth can grow, learn, and thrive. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families through comprehensive, interdisciplinary care. If you are passionate about working with youth and promoting healthy recreational and social experiences, we invite you to join our Experiential Therapy team! Schedule Weekdays 12:00p-8:30p, Weekends 11:30a-8:00p (Part-Time 24 hours/week. Weekdays and one weekend a month)
Responsibilities:
Manage a caseload of residents, documenting progress toward treatment goals and positive recreational engagement. Plan and facilitate purposeful recreational activities for both small and large groups, focusing on socio-emotional wellbeing and development. Maintain thorough documentation of client progress and responses to interventions. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in departmental and agency professional development opportunities. Foster a fun, engaging, and therapeutic environment for residents.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree Active professional certification or certification-eligible (CTRS, BC-MT, or equivalent). Minimum 2 years' experience working with children or adolescents preferred. Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. Experience facilitating small group interventions, large-scale activities, and community integration/partnerships. Experience in behavioral or mental health settings is preferred.
About Our Experiential Therapy Team:
We prioritize building and maintaining positive rapport with residents through a systematic, intentional approach. Daily Experiential Therapy groups are designed to develop skills that promote community involvement, social engagement, and overall wellbeing. We leverage community partnerships to create opportunities for skill-building, anxiety reduction, and fostering independence. Our team values creativity, enthusiasm, and a passion for working with youth. Qualities for Success We met with our residents to learn what characteristics and qualities they value most in staff. They shared that the most important quality is empathy . Residents also emphasized the importance of staff who remain level-headed and calm under pressure , as this helps them feel safe. The third quality they identified was professionalism and trustworthiness , which builds a strong foundation of respect and reliability. Finally, residents shared that having staff who are consistent and dedicated to supporting them makes a meaningful difference in their experience.
Benefits:
Full benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance 403(b) retirement plan with company contribution Company paid life and long-term disability insurance Generous paid annual leave (Vacation) Paid sick leave 8 Paid Holidays (Juneteenth added 2022, and MLK being added in 2023) Tuition reimbursement, details below: $3,000 per calendar year after 6 months of tenure $5,000 per calendar year after 2 years of tenure Employee events and activities Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Annual performance reviews Opportunities for advancement And more! The Barry Robinson Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
