Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility

Recreation Therapist, CF-Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP)

California Correctional Health Care Services

JC-519940 - Recreation Therapist, CF-Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP)

RECREATION THERAPIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

$9,159.00 - $9,903.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

Job Description and Duties

This Job Control is listed Until filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 06/15/26, 06/29/26, 07/13/26, 07/27/26, 08/10/26, 08/24/26, 09/08/26, 09/22/26.

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period

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

Please be advised of the following additional pay benefits individuals may be eligible for:

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, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee's name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre-employment process.

Under the supervision of the Senior Psychologist (Supervisor), the Recreation Therapist provides specialized programs and services for inmates, which promote social interaction, encourage profitable and appropriate use of leisure time, and provide preparation or re-entry to the general population or parole. Consultation with Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams (IDTT), Primary Clinicians, Educational staff, Correctional Counselors, and Custody personnel is essential to the development and implementation of recreational activities geared to clinical improvement in the level of functioning of inmates.

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.) You will find additional information about the job in the .

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 .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

RECREATION THERAPIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Additional Documents

Job Application Package Checklist

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-519940

Position #(s):

...-XXX

Working Title: Recreation Therapist, CF-Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP)

Classification: RECREATION THERAPIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

$9,159.00 - $9,903.00

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 5

Work Location: Monterey County

Telework: In Office

Job Type: 12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Facility: Salinas Valley State Prison

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(s) located at Salinas Valley State Prison - Soledad, located in Monterey County.

Please indicate the position number on your application: ...-XXX

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

Department Website:

Special Requirements

Please do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your State application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver's license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver's license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications (MQ) will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting MQ's with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the MQ's, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Candidates new to CCHCS are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting, and Tuberculosis (TB) testing prior to appointment followed by department annual TB testing/evaluation thereafter.

When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred.

CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate's identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov/.

This advertisement may be used for other vacancies that occur during the life of this recruitment.

Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. To prepare for the State Application process, please visit Work4CA: State Application Checklist

Application Instructions

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled