Occupational Therapist
- Outreach (Homeless Advocacy Agency) 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1668 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612 $38 an hour
- Part-time ReVive Center for Housing and Healing 3 reviews $38 an hour
- Part-time Occupational Therapist
- Outreach Position Summary The Occupational Therapist helps participants who have experienced homelessness flourish.
The Occupational Therapist (OT) is responsible for conducting outreach efforts for occupational therapy services through health management, life skills and engagement activities with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness ("clients"). They will promote the participation, health and well-being of clients on street outreach runs and on outreach efforts with Chicago Street Medicine on street runs. They will also support the design and implementation of the Street Outreach program that serves individuals experiencing homelessness. The OT will assess, make recommendations, and assist clients with various barriers and disabilities, including substance use, serious mental illness, and physical disabilities within the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act (225 ILCS 75/), with the goal of fostering effective transition to housing and community integration. They will also collaborate with other mental health professionals and social service agencies in the community to promote continuity and access to care, including ReVive programs and services in the Engagement Center. The OT will ensure that the outcomes listed by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Street Outreach Program are met. The Occupational Therapist reports to the Associate Program Director
Position Responsibilities Individual Services Assess clients' needs and establish treatment specific goals in the identified areas. Identified areas might include but are not limited to managing physical and mental health; assessing functional cognition and sensory processing; performing necessary and desired activities of daily living; engaging in productive roles such as employment, education and volunteering; negotiating boredom and substance use, establishing meaningful routines; fulfilling social roles and relationships; supporting a person and environment "fit" (e.g., environmental modifications); and promoting community engagement Collaborate with clients to establish functional goals for OT intervention using a strengths-based, harm reduction and trauma-informed approach. OT treatment interventions include therapeutic use of occupations and activities, interventions to support occupations, education, training, advocacy and self-advocacy, group and virtual interventions Provide interventions to assist clients in achieving independence or interdependence of functionality in activities of daily living including advocacy efforts Prepare and maintain accurate records including assessments, evaluations, progress notes, referrals in alignment with ReVive Center's supportive services recordkeeping policy Groups Facilitate occupation-based/life skill programming for clients engaged in supportive services as applicable Plan and implement therapeutic group activities and programs as part of overall treatment Consultative Services The OT will provide consultative services to clients as well as organizational staff regarding disability-related factors that impact successful engagement of clients Support the recovery of individuals with serious mental illness through screening, evaluation and documentation of functional and cognitive skills, participation on interdisciplinary treatment teams, as well as provision of groups and individual interventions through a harm reduction framework Consult with the Street Outreach team to provide an occupational perspective to service provision and promote holistic care Program Development The OT will help support the development of a robust client-centered program geared towards (1) improving the quality of life of clients, (2) building community partnerships and integrating clients into the community, and (3) expanding the range of supports and resources offered to clients transitioning from homelessness to housing Participate in team meetings and work groups, as well as professional development activities, trainings, conferences, etc., as required to further the mission and goal of ReVive's supportive services program and remain in compliance with funding requirements Engage in formative and summative program evaluation efforts in collaboration with clients and supportive services team Facilitate service referrals internally and/or externally for clients experiencing homelessness Engagement Center The OT will contribute to serving clients experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the community (i.e., on street runs, at appointments, in community spaces such as the Engagement Center) through design of accessible and therapeutic space(s) with the appropriate equipment to facilitate ongoing therapeutic support Perform other duties as assigned Program Administration (30%) Maintain agency documentation requirements and data quality as outlined in site policies The OT will record meaningful data to fulfill
HUD/IDHS
reporting requirements and internal mission measurement requirements Participate in team meetings and work groups, as well as professional development activities, training, etc., as required to further the mission and goal of ReVive's supportive services program and remain in compliance with funding requirements Support with learning opportunities and mentorship of fieldwork students during shifts Qualifications Education, Experience, and Licensure Requirements Masters degree in Occupational Therapy Active IL state license and board certification in good standing Skills & Competencies Experience working with homeless or marginalized populations Knowledge of issues surrounding homelessness, mental illness, substance use and trauma Strong interprofessional and collaboration skills to work with diverse professionals on the outreach team Excellent social and communication skills (both verbal and written) for engaging effectively with clients, collateral contacts, and other service providers Ability to show empathy and remain nonjudgmental Cultural responsivity with respect for diversity Bilingual in Spanish and English a plus Capacity to develop, execute and implement life skills curriculum with coordination of supportive services team Must possess strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, work autonomously, be detail oriented and follow tasks through to completion with minimal supervision Ability to maintain confidentiality of client information Commitment to the mission of the ReVive Center Compensation
- 20 hours per week
- $38/hour, paid twice a month
- Flexible shifts available, including traditional business hours, evenings and weekends Working Conditions and Physical Requirements Travel between client and assigned location(s) Work is generally performed on the street, in encampments, while canvassing from the outreach van, in the engagement center, and at client residences once housed Exposure to all varieties of Chicago weather Able to conduct independent home visits as clients transition into housing Physical activity including standing, walking, bending, climbing stairs, lifting (less than 10 pounds) Functional hearing, vision, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination or effective accommodations in place to perform job functions Effectively work on teams with interprofessional collaboration This description provides a summary of the major duties and responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities.
The employee holding this position may be required to perform additional duties to meet the needs of the organization. ReVive Center seeks to hire and foster a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and non-binary people, and others with lived experience of homelessness and/or as being part of marginalized communities.
Pay:
$38.00 per hour
Benefits:
403(b) Mileage reimbursement Paid time off Retirement plan
License/Certification:
Occupational Therapy License (Required)
Work Location:
In person
