Activities Worker

4/8/2026

The Activities Worker facilitates social and recreational programs for patients while monitoring their behavior and safety. They also assist with personal hygiene, crisis intervention, and patient orientation within the hospital ward.

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

5,001-10,000 employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

About The Company

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), the Healthcare System of Appalachia, and ranked as one of the Top 10 Employers in Kentucky by Forbes Magazine, is a not-for-profit health system operating 13 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Prestonsburg, South Williamson, West Liberty and Whitesburg in Kentucky; as well as Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores and retail pharmacies. ARH employs more than 6,000 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $330 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 600 active and courtesy medical staff members. ARH is the largest provider of care and single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third largest private employer in southern West Virginia, and is consistently recognized for its medical excellence.

About the Role

Overview

The Activities Worker is responsible for performing basic activity programs for patients.

Responsibilities

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

Encourages patients to participate in social and recreational activities and to maintain cleanliness of their area.

Observes assigned patients as they interact on the ward and with family and friends to detect unusual behavior. Reports observations to team nurse for charting purposes.

Assists in teaching good grooming and personal hygiene skills.

Assists in crisis situations through non-violent techniques, restraints or seclusion of the patient.

Interacts with patients during unstructured periods and assists new patients in their orientation to their surroundings.

Accompanies patients to activities and therapy sessions, including off hospital grounds.

Observe patients to insure that they do not leave the grounds unattended.

Participate in team conferences, ward classes, in-service education programs and committees.

Maintains work area in a clean, safe and orderly manner.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

High School Diploma with successful completion of the State Activities Course. Additional training may be required and given, to work in some areas.

Must have good communication skills.

Three (3) to six (6) months’ on-the-job training is required to attain proficiency of performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.

Key Skills

Patient observationCrisis interventionNon-violent techniquesPersonal hygiene assistanceCommunication skillsRecreational activity facilitationPatient orientationSafety maintenance