Director of Patient Activities
UHS
Summary
Mountain Youth Academy is nestled in Mountain City, Tennessee which is conveniently located near Johnson City, TN, Boone, NC, and Abingdon, VA. We are a 120-bed residential treatment facility and assist in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of behavioral health issues for our young adolescent patients.
Job description
Are you a creative, energetic, and compassionate professional who believes meaningful activities can make a real difference in a person's healing journey? We're looking for a Director of Patient Activities to bring energy, creativity, and purpose to our behavioral health environment. This is more than planning activities—it's an opportunity to create experiences that build confidence, encourage connection, develop life skills, and inspire positive changes. If you love turning ideas into engaging experiences and enjoy helping others discover what they're capable of, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
As Director of Patient Activities, you'll work closely with our interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure activities support each patient's individual goals.
Job Duties/Responsibilities
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive patient activity program.
- Create weekly activity schedules that are engaging, purposeful, and therapeutic.
- Assess patient life skills and help develop appropriate goals and interventions.
- Participate in treatment-team meetings and selected therapeutic groups.
- Use motivational techniques to encourage participation and teamwork.
- Help create a positive, safe, structured, and welcoming environment.
- Support patients during activities while recognizing individual developmental, cognitive, and emotional needs.
- Provide crisis intervention and utilize appropriate de-escalation techniques when necessary.
- Coordinate activity supplies, inventory, and ordering.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
- Collaborate with clinical, nursing, educational, medical, and other professional staff.
Qualifications
Job Requirements/Special Skills:
- Required: Master's degree.
- Minimum of 5 years of related experience designing, implementing, and providing activity and/or recreation therapy.
- Experience working with a variety of mental health disorders.
- Ability to develop and deliver educational lectures and programming.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
- Ability to maintain required licenses and certifications.
- Preferred: 8–10 years of related experience
- Preferred: CTRS Certification
Requirements
- Master's degree
- Minimum of 5 years of related experience designing, implementing, and providing activity and/or recreation therapy
- Experience working with a variety of mental health disorders
- Ability to develop and deliver educational lectures and programming
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team
- Ability to maintain required licenses and certifications
- Preferred: 8–10 years of related experience
- Preferred: CTRS Certification
Benefits
- Paid Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Stock Purchase Plan
- Attendance Incentives
- Paid Time Off
- Prescription Drug Plans
- Student Loan Refinancing
- Free Meals
- Shift Differential Pay
- Tuition Reimbursement
Company overview
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, operating as a Fortune 300 corporation headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1979, UHS has grown into a major healthcare enterprise with approximately 99,000 employees and annual revenues exceeding $14 billion. The company operates through its subsidiaries, managing 29 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, and 60 outpatient and other facilities across 39 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. UHS provides comprehensive healthcare services including acute care, behavioral health treatment, cancer centers, and ambulatory surgical centers. The company's strategy focuses on building or acquiring high-quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets and investing in advanced medical equipment and skilled personnel to become the leading healthcare provider in each community it serves. UHS is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: UHS) and has established a strong reputation for delivering compassionate, high-quality care while maintaining financial stability and operational excellence.