Job Description

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Occupational Therapist

Program: Canopy House Women’s Shelter (225 East 45th Street)

Salary Range: $90,000.00

Program Description

Canopy House is a purpose-built, 171-bed, emergency shelter for women with mental health diagnoses. The shelter is located within the Willow Tree Commons development and provides comprehensive, trauma-informed services to help residents stabilize and move towards permanent housing.

Overall Responsibilities:

Under the general direction of the supervising Occupational Therapist and program leadership, with some latitude for independent action and decision making, the Occupational Therapist is responsible for developing and implementing a robust occupational therapy program that will engage clients in a variety of therapeutic groups and 1:1 treatment sessions aimed at developing the instrumental life skills necessary for a successful transition to housing. The primary goals of the OT program will be to:

a. Provide a therapeutic structure to the daily operation of the shelter which enables clients to utilize their time in a productive and meaningful way.

b. Provide assessment data to facilitate appropriate housing referrals

c. Provide direct OT services to facilitate the development of each client’s ability to perform activities of daily living with the highest degree of safety and independence possible.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties of the position include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Ensuring that shelter residents are aware of the OT program & all available services.
• Working with Case Managers and other program staff to identify clients in need of services.
• Conducting individual assessments and developing corresponding OT goals & intervention plans.
• Developing, implementing, and leading skill-based OT groups to address client needs and goals.
• Conducting 1:1 OT sessions focused on developing skills for successful ADL performance, effective emotional regulation, and productive utilization of harm reduction strategies.
• Assisting with linking clients to appropriate community-based services.
• Providing appointment escorts as clinically indicated.
• Planning building-wide special events, community-building activities, and community outings.
• Documenting all clinical work as per program requirements.
• Engaging in data collection as indicated.
• Collaborating with all members of the interdisciplinary team for effective coordination of care.
• Conducting functional assessments to assist in determining housing readiness & completing the housing packets.
• Assisting clients with developing skills necessary for successful housing interviews.
• Assist with activities to support transitions to housing.
• Participating in weekly clinical team meetings, High-Risk Calls, and staff meetings as indicated.
• Providing clinical supervision to the occupational therapy interns on site.
• Participating in monthly OT Department Meetings and other department-wide activities.
• Participating in weekly supervision with the assigned supervising Occupational Therapist.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy as well as current valid NYS licensure, or temporary licensure at time of hire.
• Training and/or experience in community based mental health is preferred but not necessary.
• Training and/or experience in working with women is strongly preferred but not necessary.
• The candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusion, equity, and trauma-informed practice.

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer. Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.