Recreational Specialist

Who is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth, while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every individual in every community. When you join us, you'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of working in correctional healthcare:

• Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
• Exposure to diverse patient demographics
• Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
• Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Recreational Specialist will be responsible for:

• Assesses client recreation needs and develops, plans, and schedules formalized recreation curriculum and activities for clients. 
• Determines materials and supplies needed for recreation activities to ensure timely ordering and purchasing. 
• Supervises clients and staff assigned to assist with activity to ensure well-being and safety of clients.
• Documents activities on a daily basis, including individual client participation and responses to activities. 
• Working with supervisor, establishes and publishes a monthly calendar of activities or events, ensuring that activities are within prescribed budget and effectively utilize staff resources.  Communicates any updates or changes to activity calendar to supervisor, staff and clients
• Establishes working relationships with external resources and volunteer organizations for recreational activities.  Identifies recreational activities available to clients and communicates same to clients and staff.
• Determines materials and supplies needed for recreation activities, and ensures timely ordering or purchase of same.  Obtains appropriate supervisor approval for purchases.

Requirements:

• Associates degree in a helping profession, bachelor’s degree preferred
• Three (3) years progressively more responsible, related experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of recreation therapy practices, techniques and activities 
• Basic knowledge of the physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning level of the client population; and the demonstrated ability to appropriately interact, tailor interventions, including de-escalation techniques, and communicate with the client based on the individual client maturation level
• Strong communication skills necessary to communicate with diverse client population, staff, and outside agencies to organize and carry-out recreation activities; and to acquire monetary or other support for recreational activities
• Analytical abilities necessary to evaluate recreation program components and client recreation therapy needs and interests in order to provide useful and effective recreation therapy activities and events, and to identify new areas of need; and to establish recreation therapy goals for individual clients

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to read, write, and understand and follow written instructions
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and  data
• Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
• Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
• Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

Benefits at Gateway Foundation:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.