Occupational Therapist

Full- Time/ Non- Exempt Position
Starting Wage: $36.63-  $40.69

Job Summary
The Occupational Therapist provides occupational therapy services within the Behavioral Health Division, with primary responsibility for the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and additional services to children, adolescents, and adults enrolled in Comprehensive Community Services (CCS). Under the direction of the Medical Director, the Occupational Therapist functions as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team and uses a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach to assess functional needs and help individuals develop, recover, and maintain the skills needed for daily living, meaningful activity, work, relationships, and community participation. The position develops and facilitates therapeutic groups within the PHP, provides individualized occupational therapy interventions as clinically indicated, contributes to treatment planning and discharge planning, and teaches practical coping, self-regulation, sensory, and routine-building strategies that support behavioral health recovery and community independence.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities
The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

50% Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Occupational Therapy Services:
Provides occupational therapy assessment and intervention for individuals participating in the PHP, including evaluation of functional performance, daily routines, habits, roles, cognitive and emotional functioning, sensory needs, coping skills, and barriers to successful community living. Develops and facilitates evidence-informed therapeutic groups focused on areas such as activities of daily living, health management, emotional regulation, stress management, executive functioning, sleep and routine development, leisure, social participation, and return to meaningful roles. Collaborates with the Medical Director and interdisciplinary PHP team in treatment planning, ongoing assessment of progress, discharge planning, and coordination of care. Identifies changes in functioning, safety concerns, or clinical presentation and communicates concerns promptly to the appropriate clinical team member. Completes timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation in the electronic health record (EHR), including MyEvolv, consistent with program, payer, County, and regulatory requirements.

40% Comprehensive Community Services (CCS):
Provides occupational therapy services to CCS participants in collaboration with the participant, service facilitator, family or natural supports when appropriate, and the interdisciplinary recovery team. Assesses strengths, functional limitations, environmental barriers, and needs related to activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), sensory regulation, routines, community participation, education, employment, and other individualized recovery goals. Develops and implements interventions that help participants acquire, restore, or maintain functional skills and increase independence. Provides services in office, community, home, or other approved settings as clinically appropriate. Documents services, progress, and recommendations in MyEvolv in accordance with CCS, County, and applicable regulatory requirements.

10% Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Clinical Staffing, and Program Support:
Participates in PHP and CCS clinical staffings, multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, supervision and consultation, care coordination activities, and other departmental meetings as assigned. Collaborates effectively with Behavioral Health staff, other Human Services divisions, hospitals, schools, community providers, and other partners as appropriate and authorized. Contributes to program development, quality improvement, outcome monitoring, and evaluation of occupational therapy programming. Maintains professional boundaries, recognizes the limits of professional scope, and seeks consultation when clinical, ethical, safety, or operational concerns arise.

Supervision Exercised

None

Minimum Education Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited occupational therapy program.
• Minimum of one year of occupational therapy experience in behavioral health is preferred, with experience in a higher level of care setting such as inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, crisis, or other intensive behavioral health services strongly preferred. Experience serving individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use needs is preferred.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Requirements:

• Current State of Wisconsin Occupational Therapist license in good standing, or eligibility for Wisconsin licensure upon hire.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within the timeframe established by the Department.
• Completion of required Department and County training, including but not limited to Trauma-Informed Care, HIPAA/confidentiality, equity and diversity, MANDT or other approved crisis prevention/de-escalation training, workplace safety/active shooter training, and information security training.
• Maintains required continuing education and completes additional training as required by licensure, program standards, or Department leadership.
• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license and access to reliable transportation for work-related travel.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications
In order to perform the functions and responsibilities of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of occupational therapy principles, practices, assessments, interventions, and evidence-based approaches applicable to behavioral health treatment.
• Knowledge of the impact of mental health and substance use disorders on functional performance, daily living skills, cognition, sensory processing, social participation, employment, education, and community integration.
• Knowledge of behavioral health treatment across varying levels of care, including partial hospitalization, outpatient, community-based, and rehabilitative services.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented, and strengths-based approaches to care.
• Knowledge of group treatment principles and therapeutic group facilitation.
• Knowledge of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), functional assessment, coping strategies, routine development, sensory regulation, and community living skills.
• Knowledge of interdisciplinary treatment planning and the role of occupational therapy within a multidisciplinary behavioral health team.
• Working knowledge of applicable confidentiality, documentation, professional practice, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and requirements applicable to County behavioral health programs.
• Knowledge of professional ethics, therapeutic boundaries, cultural responsiveness, and client rights.

Skills

• Skill in completing occupational therapy and functional assessments and translating findings into individualized treatment recommendations and measurable goals.
• Skill in developing and facilitating structured therapeutic groups for individuals with behavioral health and co-occurring substance use needs.
• Skill in developing interventions that improve daily functioning, coping, emotional regulation, executive functioning, organization, routines, social participation, and community independence.
• Skill in observing changes in client functioning or behavior and communicating clinically significant concerns to appropriate members of the treatment team.
• Skill in clinical documentation, treatment planning, progress measurement, and timely maintenance of the electronic health record.
• Skill in communicating complex clinical information clearly and professionally with clients, families, treatment providers, community partners, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Skill in organization, prioritization, time management, and management of competing clinical responsibilities.
• Skill in collaboration, consultation, conflict resolution, and maintaining effective professional relationships.
• Skill in using sound clinical judgment and critical thinking when information is incomplete, client needs are changing, or multiple clinical considerations must be balanced.
• Skill in the use of computers, electronic health records, telehealth technology, and other systems necessary to perform assigned responsibilities.

Abilities

• Ability to independently assess functional needs and determine appropriate occupational therapy interventions within professional scope of practice.
• Ability to integrate occupational therapy interventions into an interdisciplinary behavioral health treatment plan.
• Ability to recognize changes in mental status, functioning, safety, or treatment needs and appropriately communicate or escalate concerns consistent with program protocols and professional scope.
• Ability to adapt interventions and communication approaches based on an individual's cognitive, emotional, developmental, cultural, sensory, and functional needs.
• Ability to establish therapeutic rapport while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing significant mental health symptoms, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, and complex psychosocial needs.
• Ability to work independently while functioning collaboratively within an interdisciplinary treatment team and accepting clinical direction appropriate to the program structure.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, analyze complex situations, identify potential barriers to treatment or functioning, and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, objective, and clinically appropriate documentation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive client and organizational information.
• Ability to provide services in clinic, community, client-home, and other approved settings as required by program needs.
• Ability to remain flexible and respond appropriately to changing client, program, and organizational priorities.

In evaluating candidates for this position, Ozaukee County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. 

Physical Requirements
 

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while completing documentation, participating in meetings, or providing services, with frequent use of a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to frequently stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office, clinical, group, and community settings; demonstrate or participate in therapeutic activities; and occasionally move or position materials and equipment used in occupational therapy programming. Must be able to travel to community locations and navigate varied environments, including client homes and other community-based settings, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment
 

• Work is performed in behavioral health clinic and PHP settings, office and group treatment spaces, client homes, and other community locations. Telehealth may be used when clinically appropriate and permitted by program requirements.
• The position involves regular interaction with individuals experiencing acute or chronic behavioral health symptoms and may include exposure to emotionally charged, unpredictable, or crisis-related situations. Employees are expected to use approved safety, de-escalation, infection-control, and emergency response practices.
• Work-related travel within the community is required. The position may require flexibility in scheduling to meet program and client needs and may occasionally require work outside standard business hours.

EOE / ADA Statement

Ozaukee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ozaukee County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement or affect the at-will nature of the employment arrangement between the employee and company and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
 

Ozaukee County offers a generous benefits package including: health, dental, life, & vision insurance; free employee health clinic & Teladoc; paid holidays, vacation, & sick time; state of Wisconsin WRS defined benefit pension program; bonus opportunities; employee fitness room; wellness program & wellness reimbursement; tuition reimbursement & continuing education opportunities; and more! Please note some that benefits offered are dependent on full-time/part-time status.

Ozaukee County prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, disability, genetics, veteran status or military service, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status protected by federal, state or local laws. Ozaukee County also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws.