MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Currently serving as permanent Senior Recreation Therapist and eligible for transfer OR
• Reachable on the Civil Service List for Senior Recreation Therapist OR
• One year of permanent, competitive service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the NYS Civil Service Law.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT: If appointed on a provisional basis, you must participate in the next Civil Service examination(s) and be a reachable candidate in order to obtain permanent status and maintain your position. Candidates must have:
Either 1. a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, or drama therapy;
Or 2. a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, or drama therapy, AND one year of post-degree professional experience* in planning and administering a therapeutic program which involved developing and coordinating therapeutic activities for geriatric patients/residents, individuals with developmental disabilities, individuals with psychiatric disabilities, individuals who are physically challenged, or individuals in treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse;
Or 3. a bachelor’s degree in recreation, physical education, adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation AND two years of post-degree professional experience as described above*;
Or 4. have one year of post-degree professional experience as described above* AND be one of the following:
a. certified as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); or
b. registered with the American Art Therapy Association as an Art Therapist; or
c. registered with the American Dance Therapy Association as a Dance Therapist; or
d. certified by the American Music Therapy Association as a Music Therapist; or
e. registered by the National Association for Drama Therapy as a Registered Drama Therapist.
*Substitution: A master’s degree in adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation may be substituted for one year of the post-degree professional experience described above.
Duties Description • Function as a full member of the treatment team, relating well to professional, para-professional and direct care staff and their supervisors, as well as volunteers, families and individuals.
• Provide a variety of therapeutic and rehabilitative recreation services to individuals in state operated group homes and day programs.
• Plan, develop, and implement recreation activities and programs, including, but not limited to sports, exercise, dance, drama, music, art, and social activities.
• Assist with developing and implementing agency programs for self-advocacy.
• Utilize a thorough, concise, accurate and professional manner both verbally and in writing to communicate.
• Assist in developing and carrying out program services.
• Possess an understanding of behavior management, treatment techniques and therapeutic use of recreation.
• Complete assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to adjust work schedule to meet the program and organizational needs.
• Possess a valid New York State Driver’s License.
• Complete other duties as assigned.
Additional Comments OPWDD is committed to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture, and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
If you are employed by state government, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the NYS OPWDD Workforce and Talent Management Central Office (518) 473-4785 or Email at accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
For CSEA positions: Local Bidding Agreements will be honored.
Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.
In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.
OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Long Island OPWDD Human Resources
Telephone 631-326-4482
Fax 631-493-1784
Email Address LongIsland.HR@opwdd.ny.gov
Address
Street Long Island OPWDD
45 Mall Drive, Suite 1
City Commack
State NY
Zip Code 11725
Notes on Applying Submit cover letter and résumé by October 19, 2023.
Please reference the above EOA #2023-361 in all correspondence.