Occupational Therapist - STAR Center

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift

Day. Some flexibility available for this shift, depending on selected candidate's preference. Options are: 9:00am - 5:00pm, 8:30am - 4:30pm, or 10:00am - 6:00pm.

Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions.

Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs,19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Job Description

DESC is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic occupational therapist to join our growing Division of Occupational Therapy! This unique and exciting opportunity is OT at its finest: collaborating with clients to maximize engagement and independence in meaningful routines and valued occupations. These may include ADLs/IADLs, leisure activities, household management, decreasing substance use, sustaining housing, and community integration.

Our clientele consists of highly vulnerable adults facing significant untreated and undertreated challenges related to mental health and substance use disorders. This is primarily a behavioral health role, but basic knowledge of OT interventions for physical dysfunction is expected.

Most services will be provided within the shelter, with additional outreach work conducted as needed to support an individual’s successful transition to permanent supportive housing. Therapy may be conducted individually or in groups.

The ideal candidate is innovative, adaptable, and committed to serving the most vulnerable of our community. Preference given to candidates with behavioral health experience.

This position will report to the Occupational Therapy Supervisor.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Provide high-quality occupational therapy evaluations and treatment interventions (individual and groups) to clients with serious mental illness, history of incarceration, substance use disorder, and/or history of homelessness. Services may be provided in the shelter or in permanent supportive housing sites

• Complete written documentation in manner and timeline required by department and agency
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary teams, DESC Housing staff, and community partners to ensure full continuity of care for clients.
• Participate in team meetings, in-services, and agency trainings as assigned

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Support and participate in departmental operations and development
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed by the state of Washington as an Occupational Therapist or has a valid probational certificate issued by the state of Washington to practice occupational therapy.
• Graduation from an accredited Occupational Therapy program.
• Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or any other superseding credential.
• Interest or experience in working with clients who have difficulty engaging with traditional programs.
• Excellent communication skills and professional work ethic.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of behaviors.

Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency-related business, including a current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record.

BLS/CPR Certification (can be obtained after hire).

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional fluency in a second language besides English
• Experience working with adults who have experienced homelessness
• Experience working with adults who have experienced mental health and substance use issues

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, drive, walk, stand, communicate with other employees and vendors, is required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and operate computer hardware systems.

Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Considerable stress may occur. Employees will be working both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants.

The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.