Occupational Therapist - WellConnect

Shift: Office Day (9:00am - 5:00pm or 8:30am - 4:30pm)

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

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

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 team! This is a remarkable opportunity to help shape OT’s role in community-based behavioral health.

This nontraditional position is OT at its finest: collaborating with clients to maximize engagement and independence in community-based occupations and remaining housed.

Areas of treatment focus will vary and may include ADLs/IADLs, emotional regulation, leisure activities, household management, substance use, 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 role is primarily a behavioral health role, but basic knowledge of OT interventions for physical dysfunction is expected.

Most services will be provided within DESC permanent supportive housing (PSH) projects. Therapy may be conducted individually or in groups. The ideal candidate is innovative, adaptable, and committed to serving the most vulnerable of our community.

This position will report to the Occupational Therapy Supervisor. Robust clinical mentorship is available for an Occupational Therapist with limited experience with this population, but who exhibits a passion for supporting DESC’s mission and the community it serves.

Program Description

WellConnect is a new pilot program funded by King County with a focus on stabilizing adults in permanent supportive housing who are at high risk of destabilization. Similar to a PACT treatment model, WellConnect will provide wraparound intensive behavioral health outreach services. The care team will include a psychiatric provider, psychiatric nurse, case manager, occupational therapist, psychotherapist, and peer counselor.

Clients may be struggling with some or all of the following issues: behavioral health concerns, substance use disorder, hoarding tendencies, poorly managed medication routines, cognitive impairments, mobility impairments, history of trauma, and limited engagement with traditional healthcare models.

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

• 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
• Support and participate in departmental operations and development
• Other duties as assigned.

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.

Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency business. A current Washington State driver’s license and an insurable driving record are required.

• Interest or experience in working with clients who have difficulty engaging with traditional programs.
• Excellent communication skills and professional work ethic.
• Strong clinical reasoning skills.

Commitment to Trauma-informed Care

• 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.
• 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.