Program Coordinator - Occupational Therapist (Careers for a Cause)

Company Description

Background

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice and throughout Los Angeles County.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through 20+ programs in four pillars of service: Outreach and Engagement, Housing Services, Mental Health, and Education and Vocational Training.  St. Joseph Center serves more than 10,000 people each year. 

Brief Description of Principal Activities

Multifaceted intervention, prevention, mental health, and housing assistance is offered through street outreach and 9 service sites throughout Los Angeles County. St. Joseph Center also provides on-site services at five permanent supportive housing developments, and will provide services at an additional six more sites in the coming year.  St. Joseph Center’s total holistic approach to services provide our clients with the help they need to regain their stability.

Job Description

The Occupational Therapist serves as Program Coordinator for Careers for a Cause, which is a vocational training program for at-risk populations and those with lived experience with homelessness, justice involvement, domestic violence, mental health and/or substance use.  The Program Coordinator (Occupational Therapist) serves as a team member with other social service professional and paraprofessional staff ensuring the delivery of quality care while adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Coordinator (Occupational Therapist)’s key areas of responsibility include:

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Facilitates development and rehabilitation of clients with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities by planning and administering occupational therapy.
• Meets the client’s goals and needs and provides quality care by assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results and determining occupational therapy treatment plans.
• Partners with Job Developer to develop relationships with employers and assists Careers for a Cause graduates with job-seeking skills.
• Tracks and analyzes program budget, deliverables and outcomes and reports data to internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Helps clients develop or regain physical or mental functioning or adjust to disabilities.
• Implements practice in functional, pre-vocational, vocational and homemaking skills and fosters activities of daily living.
• Promotes maximum independence by selecting and constructing therapies according to individual’s physical capacity, intelligence level, and interest.
• Prepares client for return to employment by consulting with employers; determining potential employee difficulties; retraining employees; and helping employers understand necessary physical and job accommodations.
• Evaluates results of occupational therapy by observing, noting, and evaluating client’s progress and recommending and implementing adjustments and modifications.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal and certification requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed actions.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here, nor is it expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, and other staff. Must have excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of homeless services and resources is preferred.

Experience:

• One year’s experience providing occupational therapy services preferred.
• Experience providing services to low-income individuals in a community setting with homeless or at- risk population is highly preferred.

Education:

• Current state occupational therapist license.
• Graduation from an occupational therapy accredited program
• Certified Occupational Therapist (OT) by the Amer