Location: Lancaster, CA

Start Date: 02-23-2026

End Date: 09-01-2026

Shift Type: Friday–Tuesday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Day) OR Wednesday–Sunday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Day)

Hours per Week: 40

Candidate Pay Rate: $64 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Design and lead engaging therapeutic recreation programs that support mental health recovery and coping skills
• Assess patients’ recreational needs and strengths to create individualized activity plans
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate recreation goals with overall treatment plans
• Document progress, outcomes, and participation in a clear, timely manner
• Provide psychoeducational groups and community reintegration planning as appropriate
• Monitor safety during activities and adapt programming for diverse cognitive and behavioral needs
• Coach and mentor patients to build social, leisure, and adaptive living skills

Qualifications

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is preferred; equivalent certification or credentials considered
• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a related human services field
• Experience working with mental health populations — correctional or forensic experience a plus
• Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Ability to pass background checks and facility-specific clearance requirements
• Strong communication skills and comfort working as part of an interdisciplinary team

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or related field required

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of therapeutic recreation modalities and evidence-based group interventions
• Skill designing goal-driven activity plans and measuring functional outcomes
• Familiarity with behavior management strategies and crisis de-escalation techniques
• Comfort documenting clinical notes and outcomes in electronic systems
• Cultural competence and the ability to adapt interventions to varied backgrounds
• Organizational skills to manage multiple groups and individual schedules

Benefits

• Supportive team that values your creativity and clinical expertise
• Paid orientation to help you hit the ground running
• Opportunities to grow clinical skills in a unique correctional mental health setting
• Licensure assistance & reimbursement guidance where applicable
• Paid time off so you can recharge between assignments
• Access to professional development and in-service training
• A collaborative environment focused on patient-centered therapeutic programming
• Referral program to reward teammates who bring great people onboard

Travel Perks: Explore Lancaster, CA

This assignment is in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley region — a great base for outdoor exploration. Enjoy nearby hiking and nature at Prime Desert Woodland Preserve and Devil’s Punchbowl, seasonal wildflower viewing at Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and local culture at the Lancaster Museum of Art & History. If you want a city day, Los Angeles is within driving distance for museums, dining, and entertainment.

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#RecreationalTherapistJobs #LancasterCAJobs #MentalHealthJobs #UHCCareers #TherapeuticRecreation #HealthcareJobs #ContractCareers #BehavioralHealth #RehabTherapy #CaliforniaHealthcare