Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)-Behavioral Health

About the Role

Roots is seeking a compassionate and motivated Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) to join our interdisciplinary treatment team in a residential treatment center serving adolescent girls ages 13–17. This role will support residents with mental health, behavioral, and trauma-related needs through occupation-based, trauma-informed interventions that promote emotional regulation, daily living skills, coping strategies, and engagement in meaningful activities.

What You'll Do

Direct Client Care

Provide individual and group occupational therapy services to adolescent residents based on identified needs

Address Areas Including (But Not Limited To)

• Emotional regulation and coping skills
• Sensory processing and modulation
• Daily living skills (ADLs/IADLs)
• Social participation and interpersonal skills
• Executive functioning, routines, and habits
• Self-esteem, identity development, and healthy leisure
• Utilize trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and occupation-based interventions
• Adapt interventions to meet the needs of clients with diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, SUD, ODD, and histories of trauma

Evaluation & Documentation

• Complete OT evaluations, screenings, and ongoing assessments as appropriate to OTA role.
• Develop and implement treatment goals in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team
• Document services in a timely, professional, and compliant manner according to facility and regulatory standards
• Contribute to treatment planning, progress notes, and discharge planning

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, case managers, and behavioral staff

Attend and Contribute To

• Treatment team meetings
• Clinical staffing and case reviews
• Program development meetings as appropriate
• Communicate effectively with staff regarding client needs, progress, and recommendations
• Provide consultation and education to staff on OT-related strategies (e. g., sensory supports, routines, coping tools)
• Program Support & Development
• Assist in the implementation of OT programming within the residential setting
• Support therapeutic programming on the milieu as appropriate (groups, activities, skill-building sessions)
• Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment consistent with Roots’ values

Qualifications

• Required
• Associate’s degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program
• Current state licensure as an Occupational Therapy Assistant

Experience or Strong Interest In

• Adolescent mental health
• Behavioral health or residential treatment settings
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong communication, organization, and documentation skills
• Preferred

Experience Working With

• Trauma-informed care
• Adolescents in behavioral health settings
• Group facilitation sensory integration and sensory-based interventions
• Familiarity with mental health diagnoses and therapeutic models
• Comfort working in a structured, fast-paced residential environment