CORE - Occupational Therapist at Wisconsin Community Services

Job Responsibilities:

Position Summary: Provides rehabilitative support to youth and young adults who are being served by the CORE program and experiencing their first episode of psychosis. The role of the Occupational Therapist is to provide emotional, physical, and psychological support to youth and young adults in CORE by developing, strengthening, and maintaining their daily living skills.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with CORE team members to implement individualized goals as it relates to daily living skills.
• Work closely with youth and young adults to conduct and document a thorough assessment to determine level of need as it relates to daily functioning.
• Teach youth and young adults to become more independent and self-sufficient while experiencing and managing mental health symptoms.
• Collaborate with family member(s) and/or caregiver(s) to teach skills and techniques that help the youth and young adults. This includes providing education about the youths or young adults deficits.
• Monitor and modify goals in the Plan of Care related to daily functioning as needed.
• Assess the youth or young adults ability to safely and effectively perform daily and/or independent living skills.
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of the Plan of Care and Crisis Plan.
• Connect youth/young adults to resources in the community based on interests to meet identified needs.
• Complete all necessary paperwork in a strength-based manner per Wraparound Milwaukee/Agency requirements.
• Attend and actively participate in CORE staffing and clinical consultation with Wraparound Milwaukee staff.

Job Qualifications:

Minimal Qualifications and Salary Schedule:

• A minimum of one year of continued experience working with youth.
• One year of experience serving youth or young adults with mental health and co-occurring needs.
• Complete 20-40 hours of CCS (DHS 36) training and other training as assigned.
• Working knowledge of computer applications preferred (Windows and Microsoft Word).
• Ability to display cultural competence by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth of each individual.
• Knowledge and skills to work with children, young adults and families.
• No convictions or license revocations that would fail a caregiver background check; valid drivers license, automobile and sufficient insurance to meet agency requirements.
• Meet all the employee requirements including references, criminal background check, drug test, and drivers license check.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attend in-services and participate in staffing, weekly and monthly meetings and consultations.
• Assist with coverage for co-workers as needed.
• Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Other Job Information (if applicable):

Work Relationship and Scope:

Reports directly to CORE Clinical Program Manager. Has contact with a wide variety of individuals including youth/young adults and family members, other program staff, including consulting Psychologist/Psychiatrist, and other collateral contacts, neighbors, funders, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Delinquency & Court Services Division (DCSD), Childrens Court officials, MPS staff and administrators, staff of youth serving agencies and the general public.

Personal Attributes:

Follow agency Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and respectful relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, people being served by WCS, and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability needs; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission. Demonstrates a strength based, person centered, and culturally intelligent approach to serving people with mental health and co-occurring needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Working knowledge of performing various therapeutic activities to improve overall daily functioning, the ability to interact with youth, young adults, and caregivers in a calm and professional manner; ability to follow oral and written instructions and cues; ability to remain calm and respond appropriately in crisis situations; proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; ability to perform basic computer functions; highly developed organizational skills with the ability to multitask; sensitivity towards cultural, ethnic and life needs.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a busy office environment and in the community serving children, young adults and families. Some of the work is done sitting at desk using a computer; requires significant outreach in the community and families homes; much of the outreach is done in urban neighborhoods and several hours per day may be spent driving; hours average 40 per week; flexible work schedule include some hours outside the normal work schedule on evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands:

Duties require possible physical activity while interacting in the community. May require sitting at a desk and/or computer for 2 or more hours at a time. The position requires computer work. Requires the ability to travel and drive for short and extended distances.

Wisconsin Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability, status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.