Department Information

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

CDCR and CCHCS strive to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

Commitment to California Model

CDCR and CCHCS are proud to partner on the California Model which will transform the correctional landscape for our employees and the incarcerated. The California Model is a systemwide change that leverages national and international best practices to address longstanding challenges related to incarceration and institution working conditions, creating a safe, professional, and satisfying workplace for staff as well as rehabilitation for the incarcerated. Additionally, the California Model improves success of the decarcerated through robust re-entry efforts back into to the community.

This advertisement is for a RECREATION THERAPIST, CF position at CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON-LOS ANGELES COUNTY in LANCASTER, CA, located in LOS ANGELES County.

Please write the position number on your application: 027-220-9286-XXX.

Please note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure to have a valid email address on your application.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers

Job Description And Duties

California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) is located in Lancaster, CA, which is 45 miles north of Los Angeles, CA.

Limited Term 12 months; may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent.

This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is $9159.

Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $5,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.

IMPORTANT : California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, please follow the link below and complete the questionnaire to the best of your knowledge. including the referring employee’s name , classification , PERNR , and work location .

Link to Survey: Click Here

Leads, instructs, and encourages patients in a program of individual and group activities of a physical, social, and cultural nature such as indoor and outdoor games and sports, dance, parties, dramatics, and special interest clubs; supervises entertainments and movies and assists in planning programs for special occasions; with the therapeutic team, plans treatment goals for specific patients; assists in coordinating recreation therapy with other therapeutic programs; as assigned, coordinates the activities program of a group of patients including simple crafts, games, social and musical activities, and instructs unit personnel in basic activity skills; observes patients' reactions and progress and records clinical notes to be included in medical files and prepares reports; orders supplies and equipment and cares for equipment and facilities; maintains order and supervises the conduct of persons committed to the California Department of Corrections; prevents escapes and injury by these persons to themselves, others or to property; maintains security of working areas and work materials; inspects premises and searches inmates for contraband, such as weapons or illegal drugs.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

Please note: A Training and Development (T&D) assignment will not be considered at this time.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.