Life Enrichment Specialist | Per Diem / Flex

Life Enrichment Specialist | Therapeutic Recreation | Creative Arts Therapy

Location: 2101 Belmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Department: Older Adult Behavioral Health Program
Job Type: Flex / As Needed
Schedule: Variable Schedule | Weekend Availability Required
Weekend Options: Every Weekend or Every Other Weekend
Work Setting: Fully Onsite
Starting Pay: $26.45–$27.79 per hour

About Us

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard is seeking a Life Enrichment Specialist to join our Older Adult Behavioral Health Program located at 2101 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. This specialized long-term behavioral health program provides comprehensive psychiatric and skilled nursing services to older adults living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and complex behavioral health needs.

Our multidisciplinary team provides compassionate, evidence-based, and recovery-oriented care in a structured therapeutic environment that promotes dignity, independence, and quality of life.

We are seeking a creative, energetic, and compassionate professional to develop and facilitate therapeutic, recreational, educational, cognitive, creative arts, and social programming that enhances resident engagement and supports emotional, behavioral, and cognitive well-being.

Overview

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard is seeking a Flex Life Enrichment Specialist to design, coordinate, and deliver structured therapeutic, social, recreational, creative arts, and cognitive programming for residents receiving behavioral health services.

This as-needed position provides coverage based on departmental and program needs, making it an excellent opportunity for professionals seeking flexibility while making a meaningful impact.

Weekend Availability Required: Candidates must be able to work weekends, with the option to work every weekend or every other weekend based on their availability. Additional scheduling opportunities may be available based on departmental needs.

Working closely with an interdisciplinary treatment team, the Life Enrichment Specialist plays a vital role in promoting resident engagement, emotional wellness, cognitive stimulation, independence, and overall quality of life within a therapeutic behavioral health environment.

This position is ideal for professionals with education or experience in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, or other closely related therapeutic disciplines who enjoy working with older adults experiencing serious mental illness.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and implement therapeutic life enrichment programming based on resident needs and individualized care plans

• Facilitate group and individual recreational, educational, cognitive, creative arts, and social activities

• Incorporate appropriate music, art, movement, recreational, and other creative activities to encourage resident participation and engagement

• Promote resident engagement, emotional wellness, independence, and quality of life

• Collaborate with nursing, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and interdisciplinary team members

• Monitor resident participation, engagement, and behavioral responses during activities

• Document observations, participation, and progress within the Electronic Health Record (EHR)

• Coordinate activity schedules, supplies, equipment, and therapeutic spaces

• Assist with special events, seasonal programming, and community engagement activities

• Maintain a safe, structured, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented therapeutic environment

• Maintain compliance with confidentiality, regulatory standards, and facility policies

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, or a closely related therapy-focused field

• Master's degree preferred

Experience

• Experience working in behavioral health, mental health, psychiatric, residential treatment, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, creative arts programming, or related healthcare settings required

• Experience working with older adults strongly preferred

• Experience facilitating therapeutic groups, recreational activities, creative arts programming, music-based activities, or other structured therapeutic programming preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills

• Ability to independently develop, coordinate, and facilitate therapeutic and recreational programming

• Ability to incorporate creative, recreational, educational, and social activities based on resident interests and individual needs

• Ability to engage individuals with serious mental illness and complex behavioral health needs

• Ability to adapt activities to accommodate varying physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive abilities

• Proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and basic computer applications

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team

• Strong observation, documentation, and time management skills

• Ability to maintain a professional, compassionate, and therapeutic environment

• Ability to work weekends, with the choice of every weekend or every other weekend

Why Join Us

• Flexible, as-needed schedule based on departmental needs

• Choice of working every weekend or every other weekend

• Starting pay of $26.45–$27.79 per hour

• Opportunity to apply skills in therapeutic recreation, music, art, creative programming, and behavioral health

• Opportunity to support older adults living with serious mental illness

• Collaborative multidisciplinary behavioral health team

• Meaningful work that directly improves resident engagement and quality of life

• Opportunity to develop and facilitate creative, recreational, cognitive, and social programming

• Mission-driven organization committed to recovery, dignity, and compassionate care

Pre Employment and Workplace Policy

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of all pre-employment requirements, including a physical examination, background check, verification of employment, and drug screening. The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard is a Drug Free Workplace, and all employees are expected to comply with workplace policies and standards of conduct.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Employment for this position requires full COVID-19 vaccination where permitted by law. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for individuals who are unable to be vaccinated due to a documented medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE M F D V). We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and culturally responsive workplace. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.