Laid out on a 78-acre campus, Larned State Hospital (LSH) is the largest psychiatric facility in the state serving the western two-thirds of Kansas with nearly 1,000 employees and the capacity to treat more than 450 patients daily, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. LSH is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
https://www.kdads.ks.gov/state-hospitals-and-institutions/larned-state-hospital
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The Activity Therapy Director serves as a key clinical and administrative leader responsible for the overall development, coordination, and oversight of Activity Therapy services within a psychiatric hospital. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based therapeutic programming that supports patient recovery, engagement, and functional improvement, while maintaining compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
The position provides comprehensive supervision and leadership to Activity Therapy staff, including performance management, competency development, and ongoing training. The director establishes and monitors clinical standards of practice, ensuring services are delivered consistently, effectively, and in alignment with interdisciplinary treatment goals.
In addition, the Activity Therapy Director oversees program planning, implementation, and evaluation, ensuring that therapeutic offerings are responsive to patient needs, grounded in best practices, and continuously improved through data analysis and feedback. The role plays an integral part in interdisciplinary collaboration, contributing to treatment planning, advocating for patient engagement, and ensuring Activity Therapy services are fully integrated into the overall continuum of care.
The director also maintains administrative responsibility for departmental operations, including policy development, regulatory compliance, staffing processes, and performance improvement initiatives. Oversight of Activity Therapy facilities across multiple buildings is a key component of the role, ensuring safe, well-maintained, and therapeutically effective environments through coordination with internal departments and external vendors.
As a member of the hospital’s leadership structure, the Activity Therapy Director contributes to organizational planning, communication, and emergency preparedness efforts, while promoting a culture of accountability, innovation, and patient-centered care.
Administrative Duties
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Develop, review and maintain departmental policies and procedures for the Activity Therapy Manual of Operations, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
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Create and update comprehensive job descriptions that clearly define roles, responsibilities and performance expectations for Activity Therapy Staff.
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Ensure departmental compliance with all applicable standards and regulations set forth by Joint Commission (JC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) including preparation for surveys and audits.
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Collect, monitor, and analyze department data and statistics to support performance improvement initiatives and informed decision-making.
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Oversee and manage staff timekeeping processes in accordance with hospital policies and procedures, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
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Actively participate in hospital-wide meetings, committees, and initiatives as assigned, contributing to organizational planning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Facilitate effective communication across the organization by disseminating meeting minutes, policies, and relevant internal and external information to appropriate stakeholders.
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Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned including but not limited to ensuring the agency is adequately staffed during and immediately following natural and/or manmade disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and/or acts of terrorism. Assists other employees in the work unit in accomplishing assignments as necessary.
Supervision/Coaching
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Provide consistent and structured supervision to Activity Therapy staff through regular meetings focused on performance feedback, professional development, and effective communication.
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Oversee and evaluate the quality of therapeutic services through direct observation of therapy sessions and comprehensive chart reviews to ensure adherence to clinical and documentation standards.
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Conduct and document staff competency assessments to ensure proficiency in required clinical skills and interventions.
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Complete mid-year performance reviews and annual evaluations in alignment with organizational policies, establishing clear expectations and performance goals.
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Establish, implement, and monitor clinical standards of practice to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based Activity Therapy services.
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Assess departmental training needs and develop targeted plans to address skill gaps and enhance staff performance
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Ensure staff compliance with all required and mandated training, maintaining accurate records and follow-up as needed.
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Provide and facilitate training to strengthen staff competencies and support ongoing professional growth.
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Coordinate, organize, and schedule department-specific trainings to ensure consistency, accessibility, and alignment with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
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Design and develop diverse Activity Therapy programming offerings aligned with patient populations and treatment goals.
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Expand and update program offerings to reflect evidence-based practices and emerging trends in behavioral health.
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Coordinate scheduling of programming across units to ensure accessibility and consistency of services.
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Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate therapeutic programming into overall treatment plans.
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Adapt programming to meet the cultural, cognitive, and functional needs of patients.
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Identify and develop materials, curricula, and resources to support programming offerings.
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Research new therapeutic modalities, activities, and interventions to enhance program variety.
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Maintain an inventory of program supplies and ensure resources are current and appropriate.
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Coordinate acquisition of new materials, tools, and technology to support innovative programming.
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Monitor participation, engagement, and patient outcomes related to programming offerings.
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Gather feedback from patients and staff to inform program improvements.
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Analyze data to determine effectiveness of current programming and identify gaps in services.
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Modify, replace, or expand programming based on evaluation results and identified needs.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Treatment Planning
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Actively participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings to provide clinical input from an Activity Therapy perspective and support development of comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans.
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Integrate Activity Therapy goals, interventions, and progress into individualized treatment planning, ensuring alignment with overall clinical objectives and patient needs.
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Collaborate with psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology, and other disciplines to coordinate care and ensure continuity and consistency of therapeutic interventions.
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Provide ongoing consultation to treatment teams regarding appropriate therapeutic programming, patient engagement strategies, and behavioral interventions.
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Advocate for the inclusion and appropriate utilization of Activity Therapy services as a key component of patient recovery and rehabilitation.
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Represent the Activity Therapy department in clinical discussions, ensuring that patient strengths, interests, and functional abilities are incorporated into care planning.
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Support patient-centered care by promoting meaningful engagement in therapeutic activities that enhance coping skills, socialization, and overall functioning.
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Ensure timely and accurate communication of patient progress, participation, and response to Activity Therapy interventions within the treatment team.
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Document and share relevant clinical observations to support informed decision-making and treatment adjustments.
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Facilitate continuity of care by coordinating Activity Therapy services across units, levels of care, and transitions within the hospital.
Maintain Activity Therapy Facilities Ground-Wide
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Provide comprehensive oversight of all Activity Therapy spaces across multiple buildings to ensure safe, therapeutic, and well-maintained environments that support patient care and engagement.
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Conduct routine and strategic inspections of Activity Therapy areas (e.g., gyms, outdoor spaces, and specialty rooms) to identify maintenance needs, safety concerns, and opportunities for environmental enhancement.
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Collaborate proactively with internal departments (e.g., engineering, housekeeping, safety) and external vendors to coordinate maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and capital improvement projects.
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Initiate and manage work orders and hospital processes to ensure timely resolution of facility issues, maintaining compliance with safety standards and regulatory requirements.
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Develop and implement preventative maintenance plans specific to Activity Therapy environments to minimize service disruptions and extend the lifespan of equipment and spaces.
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Oversee the procurement process for equipment, furnishings, and supplies needed to support Activity Therapy programming across all buildings, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with program needs.
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Monitor inventory levels of supplies across locations and implement systems to ensure consistent availability without overutilization of resources.
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Evaluate and recommend environmental modifications to enhance therapeutic value, accessibility, and patient engagement within Activity Therapy spaces.
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Coordinate with vendors and sales representatives to review new equipment, products, and innovations that support programming and improve service delivery.
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Ensure all Activity Therapy environments meet infection control, safety, and risk management standards in collaboration with hospital leadership.
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Develop and maintain documentation related to facility maintenance, inspections, and compliance activities for all Activity Therapy areas.
- One year of experience in providing supervision/direction necessary to implement the objectives of an agency, program, or organizational unit. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant.
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Requires an approved drug test approved by the Kansas Department of Administration unless the incumbent is moving from one safety-sensitive position to another safety-sensitive position within the same agency performing substantially similar duties.
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Must have a valid Kansas Driver’s License
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CPI System Advanced Technical Training Instructor Certification within 6 months of employment and maintain certification throughout employment.
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CPR Certification within sixty-days of employment and maintain certification throughout employment.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Horticulture Therapy
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Certification in Recreation Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Horticulture Therapy
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Experience in working with psychiatric patients
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2 years of supervisory experience
- Ability to pass a KBI background and pre-employment drug test.
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How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference
Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.
Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference
PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to [email protected], or can be mailed/delivered in person to:
ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Ave, Suite 260
Topeka, KS 66612
The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.
