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Lifepoint Health
Holyoke, Massachusetts

Activities Assistant, Behavioral Health

Behavioral HealthNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$19.03-$24.58/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 20m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Facility Name: Valley Spring Behavioral health

Position: Activity Assistant

schedule: Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm No weekends or Holidays

Shift: FT Days

Your Experience Matters

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital is operated jointly with Lifepoint Behavioral Health and Baystate Health. We are driven by a profound commitment to prioritize your well-being so you can provide exceptional care to others.

As a Activity Assistant joining our team, you’re embracing our promise to provide superior patient care that exceeds industry standards as well as patient expectations. Join us on this meaningful journey where your skills, compassion and dedication will make a remarkable difference in the lives of those we serve.

More About Our Team

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital [https://www.valleyspringsbh.com/] offers compassionate, high-quality inpatient and outpatient mental health and co-occurring treatment for teens, adults, and seniors. We provide a full-range of evidence-based medical and clinical services in a state-of-the-art healing environment. Programs include inpatient mental health and co-occurring treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).

How You'll Contribute

  • Provides activity groups
  • Documents the patient’s response to groups pertinent to patient treatment on daily/weekly progress status, as appropriate
  • Provides and documents appropriate alternate interventions when patients miss groups
  • Provides groups according to the protocol set forth by the Activity Therapist, communicate, and work with the patient to achieve the greatest benefit and resolution
  • Maintains constant communication with the Activity Therapist when patient is not responding to the treatments
  • Contributes to the effective functioning of the patient’s program
  • Understands the age differences and the corresponding developmental needs
  • Provides activities suitable to the patient’s needs and offers a variety of stimuli in accordance with the treatment plan, with approval of AT or AT lead
  • Contributes to maintain a quality program to satisfy the therapeutic needs of the patient
  • Offers direction and education to maintain clear communication of expectations
  • Provides quality programming to support the objectives of the patient and their needs
  • Contributes to treatment planning with feedback to nursing and program staff to achieve therapeutic interventions with supervision from AT or AT Lead

Why Join Us

We believe that investing in our employees is the first step to providing excellent patient care. In addition to your base compensation, this position

also offers:

  • Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple levels of medical, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time employees.
  • Financial Protection & PTO: Life, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid family leave and paid time off.
  • Financial & Career Growth: Higher education and certification tuition assistance, loan assistance and 401(k) retirement package and company match.
  • Employee Well-being: Mental, physical, and financial wellness programs (free gym memberships, virtual care appointments, mental health services and discount programs).
  • Professional Development: Ongoing learning and career advancement opportunities.

Salary Range: $19.03 - $24.58

What We Are Looking For

  • High School Diploma/GED required. Bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or equivalent preferred.
  • CPR and De-escalation certification required or obtain within 30 days of hire
  • Reports to: Director of Clinical Services
  • FLSA Status: None Exempt
  • Previous experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience working with chemical dependency, dual diagnosis, psychiatric and geriatric patients preferred.

EEOC Statement

“Lifepoint Behavioral Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Lifepoint Behavioral Health is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.”

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier.

Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities.

We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.

We employ and provide care to people from all walks of life. We are committed to promoting healing, providing hope, preserving dignity and producing value with an inclusive workforce in which diversity is leveraged, respected, and reflective of the patients, family members, customers and team members we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate therapeutic activity groups and provide appropriate alternate interventions, documenting patient responses and progress in accordance with treatment protocols. Coordinate with the Activity Therapist, nursing, and program staff to support treatment planning and deliver activities suited to patients’ needs and developmental stages.

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required; a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy or an equivalent qualification is preferred. CPR and de-escalation certification are required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire, and prior psychiatric healthcare experience with relevant patient populations is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Activity Group FacilitationPatient DocumentationTherapeutic ProgrammingTreatment Plan SupportPatient CommunicationInterdisciplinary CollaborationDevelopmental Needs AssessmentPsychiatric CareChemical Dependency CareDual Diagnosis CareGeriatric Patient Care

Behavioral Health Career Context

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is down 5.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$45k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $43k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-life snapshot

3.9/ 10
Listing-based score
  • No weekends

Living in Holyoke

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$339k
Typical market rent
$1,863/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.1
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Springfield, MA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Lifepoint Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Gallatin, Tennessee
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Dental, Vision
Life Insurance
Short & Long Term Disability
Paid Family Leave
PTO
Tuition Assistance
Loan Assistance
401(k) with Company Match