Occupational Therapist (Pilot program/Rapid Discharge)

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • Petersburg, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is a part of the rapid discharge program which aids in
expediting patient's discharge into the community. As a part of the rapid
discharge program, this position is required to work one weekend per month.

This position provides services campus-wide in several treatment units,
therefore there will be some oversight from the individual Rehab Department unit
supervisor in addition to overall supervision from the OT/clinical supervisor.

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 (Pilot
Program/Rapid Discharge) to provide comprehensive, recovery-oriented
occupational therapy services to adults ages 18–64 with serious mental illness,
substance use histories, physical and intellectual disabilities, and trauma
backgrounds. This position plans and delivers up to 18 hours per week of
functionally based active treatment interventions—including day, evening,
weekend, and holiday programming—that promote hope, skill development, and
successful community reintegration. Responsibilities include completing
comprehensive rehabilitation assessments (functional, ADL, ILS, cognitive,
physical, sensorimotor, vocational, and educational), documenting client
attendance and progress in accordance with hospital and departmental standards
and maintaining accurate electronic health record entries and statistical
reports. The Occupational Therapist serves as an active member of the
interdisciplinary treatment team, participates in morning briefings and
treatment planning, integrates services into individualized recovery plans, and
communicates client outcomes effectively to staff, clients, and families.
Additional duties include transporting clients using state vehicles (including
wheelchair-accessible buses and 15-passenger vans), supporting least restrictive
interventions, modeling respectful and trauma-informed care, completing monthly
clinician reports, maintaining equipment and treatment areas, supporting student
fieldwork placements, and ensuring compliance with all licensures,
certification, training, and safety requirements. This role requires one weekend
per month and a strong commitment to person-centered care, collaboration,
professionalism, and empowering individuals toward recovery and independence.

Requirements

• 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.
• Proficient in both verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, 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.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working in an inpatient psychiatric mental health facility.

Responsibilities

• Completing comprehensive rehabilitation assessments (functional, ADL, ILS, cognitive, physical, sensorimotor, vocational, and educational)
• Documenting client attendance and progress in accordance with hospital and departmental standards and maintaining accurate electronic health record entries and statistical reports
• Serving as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, participates in morning briefings and treatment planning, integrates services into individualized recovery plans, and communicates client outcomes effectively to staff, clients, and families
• Transporting clients using state vehicles (including wheelchair-accessible buses and 15-passenger vans)
• Supporting least restrictive interventions
• Modeling respectful and trauma-informed care
• Completing monthly clinician reports
• Maintaining equipment and treatment areas
• Supporting student fieldwork placements
• Ensuring compliance with all licensures, certification, training, and safety requirements

Benefits

• DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level