Occupational Therapist

Community Access was founded in 1974 to provide housing and support for people being discharged from psychiatric institutions.

Today, we are one of the leading providers of supportive and affordable housing in New York City, and the originators of an integrated housing model which has become a best practice nationally: affordable housing where families live alongside people living with mental health concerns.

Our staff work daily to support thousands of New Yorkers through supportive and affordable housing, peer-driven residential crisis support programs, training, advocacy, supported education, mobile treatment and other healing-focused services.

Program/Department Description

Community Access provides affordable housing, supportive services, education, training and employment services, integrated rehabilitation and treatment services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities, histories of homelessness, substance use, criminal justice involvement and serious health concerns.

The Housing department provides permanent and affordable supportive housing for individuals living with mental health concerns and low-income community residents and families, as well as licensed transitional residential programs for individuals moving from institutions into the community.

Services are geared towards assisting people in maintaining their housing and moving forward with their lives in stable community-based environments.

Community Access’ Housing Mobile Team (HMT) serves Community Access tenants who are experiencing a behavioral health or physical health crisis that requires an extra level of support to resolve. The HMT staff work collaboratively with housing staff, utilizing assertive engagement strategies to proactively engage tenants in services.

The Housing Mobile team is a multidisciplinary program that includes psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists and other staff members offering rehabilitation, treatment and recovery support services.

The team provides expertise in the areas of health and wellness, substance use and harm reduction, criminal justice, peer support and behavioral health recovery.

Based on their area of expertise, team members collaborate to deliver comprehensive, integrated and flexible services that are responsive to a participant’s choices, needs and goals.

Position Overview

The Occupational Therapist (OT) functions as a primary practitioner who assesses and monitors HMT participants’ clinical health and response to treatment. The OT approach of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation is used to assist individuals in their achievement of mental health, rehabilitation and recovery goals. The OT also has supervision responsibility for students who are completing internships in different housing sites.

Key Performance Indicators

• Progress notes for all contacts, attempted contacts, and collateral outreach are completed within two business days of the contact/attempt
• Comprehensive Occupational Assessments are offered to participants during the first month of enrollment
• In collaboration with program MD and RN, diagnostic and prescription information is updated in charts within two business days of any hospital contact/discharge
• Provide supervision as required for OT students

Job Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, upholding participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
• Holds current Occupational Therapy license in New York State
• Experience developing, implementing and evaluating program and participant goals.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Able to show initiative and be responsible for follow through, utilizing creativity and flexibility.
• Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving
• Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
• Must be able to provide in person services in the community, including use of public transportation.
• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds.
• Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word and Excel, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center
• Community Access is dedicated to hiring a workforce that is representative of the populations we serve. BIPOC individuals and people who identify as having lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply on communityaccess.org.

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated

to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal

experience using mental health services. communityaccess.org