Position Summary: Develop, plan, and implement therapeutic recreation services which support the resident treatment plans by improving the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social abilities of residents. 

Nexus Family Healing is located approximately 30 miles south of Kankakee and 45 miles north of Champaign-Urbana, just a few miles off of I-57 on a historic site in Onarga, IL. 

Nexus Family Healing provides boys ages 10 to 20 years old a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address a variety of unhealthy behaviors and mental health issues as well as childhood trauma.  Nexus Onarga youth attend our onsite private, therapeutic Grand Prairie School which offers special education with small classes for grades 5th-12th. 

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Pay: $22.00 -$25.00

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• Four weeks paid time off (PTO) in the first year of employment
• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• NEW - Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• NEW - Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit
• Tuition assistance and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Primary responsibilities:

Recreational Planning & Execution

• Develop, coordinate, and implement physical education and leisure activity programs for clients while maintaining the safety of clients, staff, and the community. 
• Utilizes assessment tools, client survey data and child and family team input to determine individual resident needs pertaining to physical education/recreation. 
• Develops, plan, supervise and participate in recreational activities and events that support the goals of the recreation department and enhance the therapeutic treatment environment. 
• Models and teach healthy leisure values, attitudes and social skills in all recreational activities and events. 
• Collaborates and communicates with program staff to integrate the recreation treatment goals, objectives and methodology, and support the emphasis of a trauma-informed, strengths-based therapeutic treatment environment as part of the overall treatment plan.  

 Activity Facilitation & Coordination

• Research, evaluate and implement resources and opportunities for new and continuing activities on campus and within the surrounding community. 
• Purchases recreational equipment and supplies and assist in the annual agency budgeting process related to the recreational program. 
• Organizes and ensure the inventory and maintenance of recreation equipment. 
• Assists in fundraising and/or grant development for large scale recreational initiatives. e. Organize, facilitate, and attend events. 
• Participate with coworkers as a team on implementation of treatment plans and therapeutic services. 
• Remains cognizant of individual resident levels/phases, privileges and restrictions and trauma triggers and adapt interactions accordingly. 
• Engages in trauma-informed, strengths-based therapeutic interventions with client within treatment parameters, while maintaining appropriate boundaries. 
• Reports to supervisor and team members, any signs and symptoms potentially requiring intervention or referral (suicidal or violent tendencies, self-mutilation, eating disorders, traumatic responses, etc.). 
• Complies with all documentation standards including, but not limited to, significant event reporting, informing the family as appropriate. 

 Client & Program Safety & Compliance

• Ensures clients’ emotional and physical safety, as well as the safety of staff and the community, and collaborate with co-workers to maintain an environment that is positive, respectful, clean, strengths-based, and therapeutic. 
• Ensures compliance with all safety policies and procedures involving living areas, buildings, campus grounds and while attending off campus activities. 
• Performs First Aid/CPR procedures and respond according to established protocols in the event of an emergency situation. 
• Perform restraints and seclusion activities as necessary to keep clients safe from self and others and report incidents to the proper individuals, to include families. 
• Maintains appropriate boundaries in all interactions and contact with clients. 
• Complies with company policies involving privacy and confidentiality for clients and their families. 
• Serves as a company representative involving external activities and community resources and relationships. h. Transports clients as necessary. 
• Participates in other committees as assigned; Attend staff meetings and training sessions as required.  
• Understands and supports the Nexus Family Healing philosophy and treatment modalities.  
• Ensures that all activities are conducted in compliance with the Confidentiality Act regarding client background and treatment, case reviews, determinations, results and/or recommendations, and are also in compliance with all HIPPA regulations, as well as company policies on privacy and confidentiality for clients and their families. l. All other tasks and duties as assigned. 

 Schedule: Full Time.      

 Required Education and Licensure:

• High School diploma  
• A minimum of five (5) years’ demonstrated experience in a residential treatment setting with youth/adolescents, included some provisions of recreational activities. 
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements 

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Physical Education or related field required. Minimum of two (2) years demonstrated experience in a residential treatment setting required, preferably in the provision of recreational activities/programs with youth. 
• Experience working with families and trauma-exposed children and adolescents preferred. 

 Physical demands:

• Maybe required to assist staff in proper restraining of clients. 
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance. 
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours).  

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!