Los Angeles County
Special Salary Information
Due to Critical Shortage Recruitment, new appointments and current incumbents shall be compensated at step 3 of the applicable salary range. This is in effect until June 30, 2026 or until it is determined that a shortage no longer exists, whichever is sooner.
Special Recruitment and Retention Bonus The County of Los Angeles is currently offering a 20% bonus for full‑time Recreation Therapist II hired by Correctional Health Services and working on‑site in a designated facility to meet critical healthcare needs for the uniquely underserved jail population.
Mission To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.
Definition Provides a full range of professional recreational therapy services to assist patients with mental or physical disabilities in attaining, regaining, or maintaining physical, social, or mental functioning or adjusting to their disabilities.
Responsibilities
Plan, organize, and direct a recreation therapy program designed to assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of hospital, clinic, or institutionalized patients or clients, including conceptualization and demonstration projects.
Supervise and conduct individual and group therapeutic recreational, social, and physical treatment modalities and techniques, including therapeutic intervention, instruction, leadership, and counseling techniques focused on restoring physical, mental, and social capabilities.
Conduct and/or coordinate social/leisure discharge planning, community adjustment programs, and referral and patient‑family education services to assist the patient or client in reintegrating into the community and utilizing community resources.
Contribute to medical and rehabilitative services by participating in case, colleague, and systems consultations, and serve on special committees representing recreation therapy in various hospitals, institutions, departmental, or community settings.
Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of existing recreation therapy programs and services and revise or modify the program in keeping with the changing needs of the patient and interdisciplinary team objectives.
Define recreation therapy goals and objectives, and plan, develop, and implement the recreation therapy program through effective and efficient utilization of subordinate staff, recreation facilities, equipment, and supplies.
Delegate responsibilities and assign treatment procedures to subordinate recreation therapy personnel and students, review their work, and prepare performance evaluations as appropriate.
Develop and maintain liaison with community agencies and recreation facilities to encourage participation in recreation therapy and coordinate after‑care follow‑up programs.
Document treatment services in accordance with departmental, local, state, federal, and JCAHO regulations and standards.
Orient new staff and members of the interdisciplinary team to therapeutic recreation procedures and the role of recreation therapy, and provide ongoing informal and formal in‑service training.
Select, administer, analyze, and interpret a variety of standardized and non‑standardized assessment techniques of cognitive and social skills, affective behavior, and sensory motor integration to evaluate patients or clients; provide appropriate interventions requiring ongoing interpretation of assessment data that support treatment goals.
Evaluate current and future need for facilities, supplies, and equipment, prepare and submit budget requests, and follow through with ordering supplies and equipment.
Provide technical guidance to subordinate staff and students by instructing and training them in therapeutic methods and recommending treatment modalities and interventions when appropriate.
Attend and participate in professional conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Minimum Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with specialization in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation and two (2) years of experience in the practice of Recreation Therapy at the level of Recreation Therapist I.
A master’s degree in Recreation Therapy or Recreation with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
License
Current certification to practice as a Recreation Therapist issued by the California Board of Parks and Recreation Certification.
Current certification to practice as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist issued by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Physical Class III – Moderate Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10‑25 pounds.
Special Requirement Information To receive credit for college coursework or degree, include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official license by submission within 15 calendar days of filing. Applications submitted without required evidence will be rejected as incomplete.
*The required license and/or certificate must be current and unrestricted; a conditional, provisional, probationary or restricted license will NOT be accepted.
Examination Content This examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience based upon application information weighted 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher.
Eligibility Information Applications will be processed on an as‑received basis. Those receiving a passing score will be entered on the eligible register for a period of twelve months following promulgation. No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve months.
Vacancy Information The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies within the Department of Health Services as they occur.
Special Information Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Available Shift Any
Application and Filing Information All applications must be filed online only. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Click on the Apply tab to submit. Track your application status on this website. Application filing may be suspended at any time without advance notice. The deadline for online submissions is 5:00 p.m. PST on the last day of filing.
All information is subject to verification. The county reserves the right to reject applications at any time during the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.
Applicants who cannot attach required documents must email the documents to the exam analyst at Mhernandez@dhs.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing online.
Social Security Number All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering an invalid number will result in automatic rejection.
Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries Applicants lacking regular access can complete application on public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
Ada Coordinator Phone (323) 914‑7111
California Relay Services Phone (800) 735‑2922
Department Contact Martin Hernandez, Exam Analyst Mhernandez@dhs.lacounty.gov (213) 684‑8717
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Special Recruitment and Retention Bonus The County of Los Angeles is currently offering a 20% bonus for full‑time Recreation Therapist II hired by Correctional Health Services and working on‑site in a designated facility to meet critical healthcare needs for the uniquely underserved jail population.
Mission To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.
Definition Provides a full range of professional recreational therapy services to assist patients with mental or physical disabilities in attaining, regaining, or maintaining physical, social, or mental functioning or adjusting to their disabilities.
Responsibilities
Plan, organize, and direct a recreation therapy program designed to assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of hospital, clinic, or institutionalized patients or clients, including conceptualization and demonstration projects.
Supervise and conduct individual and group therapeutic recreational, social, and physical treatment modalities and techniques, including therapeutic intervention, instruction, leadership, and counseling techniques focused on restoring physical, mental, and social capabilities.
Conduct and/or coordinate social/leisure discharge planning, community adjustment programs, and referral and patient‑family education services to assist the patient or client in reintegrating into the community and utilizing community resources.
Contribute to medical and rehabilitative services by participating in case, colleague, and systems consultations, and serve on special committees representing recreation therapy in various hospitals, institutions, departmental, or community settings.
Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of existing recreation therapy programs and services and revise or modify the program in keeping with the changing needs of the patient and interdisciplinary team objectives.
Define recreation therapy goals and objectives, and plan, develop, and implement the recreation therapy program through effective and efficient utilization of subordinate staff, recreation facilities, equipment, and supplies.
Delegate responsibilities and assign treatment procedures to subordinate recreation therapy personnel and students, review their work, and prepare performance evaluations as appropriate.
Develop and maintain liaison with community agencies and recreation facilities to encourage participation in recreation therapy and coordinate after‑care follow‑up programs.
Document treatment services in accordance with departmental, local, state, federal, and JCAHO regulations and standards.
Orient new staff and members of the interdisciplinary team to therapeutic recreation procedures and the role of recreation therapy, and provide ongoing informal and formal in‑service training.
Select, administer, analyze, and interpret a variety of standardized and non‑standardized assessment techniques of cognitive and social skills, affective behavior, and sensory motor integration to evaluate patients or clients; provide appropriate interventions requiring ongoing interpretation of assessment data that support treatment goals.
Evaluate current and future need for facilities, supplies, and equipment, prepare and submit budget requests, and follow through with ordering supplies and equipment.
Provide technical guidance to subordinate staff and students by instructing and training them in therapeutic methods and recommending treatment modalities and interventions when appropriate.
Attend and participate in professional conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Minimum Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with specialization in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation and two (2) years of experience in the practice of Recreation Therapy at the level of Recreation Therapist I.
A master’s degree in Recreation Therapy or Recreation with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
License
Current certification to practice as a Recreation Therapist issued by the California Board of Parks and Recreation Certification.
Current certification to practice as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist issued by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Physical Class III – Moderate Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10‑25 pounds.
Special Requirement Information To receive credit for college coursework or degree, include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official license by submission within 15 calendar days of filing. Applications submitted without required evidence will be rejected as incomplete.
*The required license and/or certificate must be current and unrestricted; a conditional, provisional, probationary or restricted license will NOT be accepted.
Examination Content This examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience based upon application information weighted 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher.
Eligibility Information Applications will be processed on an as‑received basis. Those receiving a passing score will be entered on the eligible register for a period of twelve months following promulgation. No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve months.
Vacancy Information The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies within the Department of Health Services as they occur.
Special Information Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Available Shift Any
Application and Filing Information All applications must be filed online only. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Click on the Apply tab to submit. Track your application status on this website. Application filing may be suspended at any time without advance notice. The deadline for online submissions is 5:00 p.m. PST on the last day of filing.
All information is subject to verification. The county reserves the right to reject applications at any time during the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.
Applicants who cannot attach required documents must email the documents to the exam analyst at Mhernandez@dhs.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing online.
Social Security Number All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering an invalid number will result in automatic rejection.
Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries Applicants lacking regular access can complete application on public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
Ada Coordinator Phone (323) 914‑7111
California Relay Services Phone (800) 735‑2922
Department Contact Martin Hernandez, Exam Analyst Mhernandez@dhs.lacounty.gov (213) 684‑8717
#J-18808-Ljbffr