Introduction Are you interested in a rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals through innovative recreational therapy interventions? Come join our team! Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) within the Department of Health Services (DHS) is recruiting to fill multiple full-time Recreational Therapist positions in Mauston, WI. Working hours are Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm, with some Saturdays and evenings required depending upon programming. SRSTC opened in 2001 and provides care and treatment for several different patient populations. The center houses Wisconsin's Sexually Violent Persons Program, provides care and treatment for persons found not guilty by reasons of mental disease or mental defect, and provides court ordered treatment, testing, and education to patients found not competent to stand trial. SRSTC is a 500-bed treatment facility and is part of the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS). Watch this video to learn more about the work of DCTS . We are searching for people with diverse backgrounds to join our dynamic and team-oriented environment. As an employee of the state of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package , including:
- 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time.
- Top rated health plan options starting at $42/month for single plans and $104/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service.
- Premium pension plan with at least a 6.9% employer match in 2024. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.
- Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
- A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
Position Summary As Recreational Therapists, you are responsible for developing and implementing a recreational therapy program focused on leisure and independent living skills for your assigned living units and throughout the facility. This program is intended to prepare patients for community life. Your responsibilities will include:
- assessing the needs and goals of the patients and developing programming based on their needs.
- participating as an active member of the multidisciplinary team including collaborating and consulting as needed.
- providing training to therapeutic recreation students.
- planning, organizing, and implementing group and individual activities (e.g., arts, crafts, sports, exercise, etc.) with patients.
Salary Information - The positions may be filled at the Therapist or Therapist-Senior level based on the selected candidate's qualifications.
- The starting pay for the Therapist is between $27.00 - $30.04 per hour (approximately $56,100-$62,400 per year), depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. The pay schedule/range is 11/05.
- The starting pay for the Senior level is between $31.50 - $36.38 per hour (approximately $65,500-$75,600 per year), depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. The pay schedule/range is 11/04.
- A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay for current or former state employees is set based upon the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction.
Job Details - All appointees will be required to receive a TB test, which will be administered by SRSTC or medical personnel approved by the facility after the start date.
- All applicants who may be appointed will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
- DHS does not sponsor work visas for these positions, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.
Qualifications At a minimum, you'll need the following:
- Certification or eligible for certification within 6 months of hire as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Eligible means you meet the requirements to take the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Exam. Please see the NCTRC Paths to Certification website for more information. Requirements to take exam include:
- Completion or near completion of a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field AND one of the following:
- Completion of a minimum 14 week / 560-hour internship supervised by a CTRS OR
- Completion of specific coursework in Recreational Therapy (Therapeutic Recreation) AND paid work experience that uses the Therapeutic Recreation process
It'd be great if you also have at least one of the following:
- Experience working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience working in a secure setting (i.e., mental health or corrections).
- Experience, education, or training participating in treatment plan development including developing goals and objectives to meet the needs of patients.
- Experience, education, or training using verbal intervention techniques such as motivational interviewing.
- Two (2) or more years of experience as a professional Therapist.
The letter of qualifications is limited to one (1) page. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here .
How To Apply Applying is easy! Click Apply for Job to start your application process. Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application. Helpful Information:
- Once an application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click Save to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
- You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
- Submitted materials will be evaluated according to the qualifications list above.
- Please monitor your email for communications related this position.
- Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
- If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs .
- For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions . For questions about the position or for other employment inquiries, please contact Katie in Human Resources at ...@dhs.wi.gov
DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans' hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran's Affairs, click here .
Deadline to Apply Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.