Job Description

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Independence Mental Health Institute (IMHI) in Independence, Iowa, is seeking an energetic and talented Activities Specialist 1 to provide therapeutic activities to the facility\'s patient population. IMHI\'s mission is to administer quality mental health services in a caring, supportive and individualized atmosphere. The Activities Specialist will work with their assigned patients providing active treatment working collaboratively within the Activities Therapy Department and with all multi-disciplinary treatment teams. The Activities Specialist duties include:

• Interview each patient assigned, evaluate information and complete a written Activities Therapy Assessment and Plan for inclusion in the patient\'s comprehensive treatment plan within 72 hours of patient\'s admission to IMHI.
• Monitor progress and active treatment of all patients, evaluate needs and refer for appropriate patient education classes consistent with the patient\'s level of functioning.
• Provide \xe2\x80\x9chands-on\xe2\x80\x9d experience with different leisure activities.
• Provide patients with the skills required to utilize community resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

IMHI provides inpatient treatment and acute psychiatric services. The facility offers several services including individualized treatment plans and support for children and adolescent patients to continue their education. Individuals are encouraged to collaborate with staff members in formulating their own plan. Medication, group counseling and activities therapies might be included as well.

When a long-term team member was asked \xe2\x80\x9cwhy did you choose a career at IMHI,\xe2\x80\x9d the team member stated, \xe2\x80\x9cIt really is the work that has kept me here. The work is rewarding. The patients are the most difficult to treat and most expensive. We are the final stop for getting cutting edge psychiatric treatment.\xe2\x80\x9d

If you enjoy helping people with adult, children and family services, mental health treatment, disabilities services and long-term care, this is a great opportunity to consider.

We have a great total compensation package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees\' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

For additional information on benefits .

Please Note: Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services new vaccine mandate for healthcare workers (published on November 5, 2021 and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court on January 13, 2022), all potential employees of this facility must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a primary series or a single dose vaccine OR have an approved religious or medical exemption (as determined by the agency) OR have documentation reflecting a temporary delay in vaccination (as determined by the agency in accordance with CDC allowances), prior to the start date. Candidates shall coordinate with agency staff to ensure all requirements are met before the individual provides any care, treatment or other services for the facility and/or its clients.

Independence Highlights

IMHI is in Independence, Iowa, a city of approximately 6,000, located in scenic Northeast Iowa. The Wapsipinicon River flows through town offering many recreational opportunities from canoeing to fishing. Independence is a progressive community sporting a newer public library, trails and home of Cedar Rock state park which includes a Frank Lloyd Wright home.

Independence is 30 minutes from Waterloo/Cedar Falls home of the UNI Panthers, 45 minutes from Cedar Rapids and 1 hour from Iowa City, home of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with \xe2\x80\x9clived experience\xe2\x80\x9d and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired - Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit .

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in art, the behavioral/social sciences, industrial therapy, music, occupational therapy, physical education, recreation, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, or other closely related fields;

OR experience at a level comparable to Activities Assistant or above may be substituted in any equivalent combination for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for each thirty-semester hours of education to a maximum of four years;

OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to two years of full-time work as an Activities Assistant.

For additional information, please click on this

Additional Qualification Requirements

Designated positions in this job class require applicants to obtain the required Commercial Drivers License and endorsements within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.

At the time of interview, applicants referred to Glenwood and Woodward State Hospital-Schools will be assessed to determine if they meet federal government employment requirements as published in the Federal Register, Volume 39, No. 12, Thursday, January 17, 1974, Section 20-CFR-405.1101.

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