Occupational Therapist (Pilot Program - Rapid Discharge)

Title: Occupational Therapist (Pilot Program - Rapid Discharge)

State Role Title: 49233

Hiring Range: $83,740.00 to $115,561.00 - Pay to commensurate with experience.

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central State Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

** This position is part of the pilot-rapid discharge program which works to enhance client’s return into the community. As a part of this, the position is expected to provide services one weekend per month. **

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.

CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.

Central State hospital is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist to facilitate and co-facilitate Occupational Therapy services with adults 18 to 64 years of age who have serious mental illness, substance use histories, physical and intellectual deficits and who have experienced trauma. To plan and facilitate day, evening, weekend, and holiday therapeutic interventions (group and 1:1) that are functionally based, promote hope and recovery, and that assist our client’s return to his/her highest level of functioning in order to be successful in the community. To document on client’s attendance and progress according to hospital policy and departmental policy. To serve as an active member of the Interdisciplinary treatment team and provide information regarding client’s response to treatment and revise accordingly based on current functional level.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Active Treatment

- Plans and implements up to 18 hours of active treatment services for adult seriously mentally ill clients that are appropriate, meet the client’s assessed needs and are in accordance with department standards and programs description. As much as possible, Involve the client in the decision making and group planning process.
- Ensure that the clients’ treatment interventions are integrated with the plans established by the treatment teams and are carried over to the clients’ active treatment program.
- Ensures that attendance and punctuality support active treatment and service delivery.
- Ensures all treatment activities are covered including evening, weekends and holidays. Fully informs supervisors regarding coverage of scheduled activities.
- Expected to drive/operate state cars, wheelchair equipped bus, and 15 passenger van to transport clients to activities and groups on campus and out into the community.
- Encourage persons served to have hope and positive expectations for their recovery.

Treatment Team/Planning Process

- Participates in the multidisciplinary treatment team process which includes attending daily Morning Briefings, team meetings as scheduled, completion of the referral process and assistance with treatment planning process in the clients Electronic Health Record.
- Provides information regarding the client’s outcomes to both the team members and appropriate Rehab Department Staff.
- Facilitates the completion of temporary schedules and referrals for new and existing clients within the time frame defined in the Rehab Departments standards and assists with the development of the client’s treatment plan using person centered goals, providing updates to the team and the client on client’s outcomes, as well as to appropriate Rehab Department Staff.

Assessments

- Completes Rehab assessments (initial and/or annual updates) which determine client’s functional, learning, communication, vocational and educational strengths and needs.
- Complete ILS evaluations as needed.
- Ensures that assessments also identify any problems related to use of substances, ongoing MI treatment needs, and functional needs related to discharge.
- Ensures that assessments are completed according to department and hospital standards for time and content.
- Complete ILS, ADL, cognitive, physical, positioning and sensorimotor evaluations as needed.
- Ability to articulate recommended skilled occupational therapy interventions to the treatment team, client, family members, and nursing staff.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED:
- Degree (grad/undergrad) from an accredited School of Occupational Therapy.
- National registration (or eligibility) and licensure (or eligibility) from Virginia State Board of Medicine to practice an OT.
- Work/internship experience dealing with various types of mental and physical disorders, people of all ages, and experience in evaluating, establishing treatment intervention and assessing effectiveness of treatment interventions.
- Valid Virginia driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required to Successfully Perform the Work:

- Proficient in both verbal and written communication skills with staff, client, community providers, and family members.
- Skilled in the ability to develop, plan, and implement occupational therapy interventions and groups utilizing a multi-modalities approach along with evidenced based treatment and trauma informed strategies that promote recovery and functional outcomes.
- Ability to clinically assess both psychosocial and physical deficits and implement occupational therapy interventions accordingly.
- Additional duties will include (but are not limited to) operating a state vehicle to include cars, wheelchair equipped minibus and 15 passenger van, participating in special unit activities (unit/dept/hospital), utilizing TOVA techniques with clients, and working irregular work week and hours when necessary and Awareness of safety and security procedures.

Additional Considerations

PREFERRED:
• Previous OT experience working in a psychiatric hospital setting.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Central State Hospital only accepts online applications via RMS. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed, or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.


An extensive criminal history background investigation, not limited to employment references, drug testing and E-Verify will be conducted.

Central State Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of four health insurance plans, paid life insurance and retirement plans, 12 paid holidays, annual and sick leave.

Applicants must list all relevant experience that you wish to be considered for this position. Applicants will be provided confirmation of receipt when your application and/or resume is submitted. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. A fingerprint-based criminal history check and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code §37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific “barrier” crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending “barrier” charges.

DBHDS facilities are no longer required to ensure that all staff members are vaccinated against COVID-19. However, facilities encourage and educate staff on the benefits, and continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination programs to staff, residents/clients. Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Human Resources.

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS, to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at
(804) 524-7111 for assistance.

DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability. Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: 804-524-7111

Email: CSHRecruitment@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.