Occupational Therapist - Days- Behavioral

UHS•Austin, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Texas NeuroRehab Center is hiring an Occupational Therapist for its Behavioral Psych Unit. The center is a specialized treatment facility located on 67 wooded acres about ten minutes from downtown Austin. It provides complex medical rehabilitation for people with brain and spinal cord injuries, as well as neuropsychiatric treatment for youth, serving patients ages 13 and older. Its integrated programs provide specialized care for children, adolescents, and adults. The role requires knowledge of human development, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and how treatment procedures affect body functions, structure, and occupation. The therapist applies occupational therapy knowledge to support patients with neuropsychiatric and sensory-motor needs. The position requires a bachelor's or master's degree in Occupational Therapy, a current Texas occupational therapy license, and one year of experience in a neurorehabilitation setting. The work involves sustained activity and standing, communicating with and observing patients, documenting care, and responding to potentially aggressive behavior, including restraint and patient transfers as required.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
Current license from the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (LOT).
One year of experience in a neurorehabilitation setting.
Thorough knowledge of human development, human anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and the effects of treatment procedures on body functions, structure, and occupation.
Knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-motor disorders, their impact on developmental and psychosocial skills, and appropriate interventions.
Basic understanding of psychosocial skills and their effects on motivation, behavior control, interpersonal skills, and occupational performance.
Basic understanding of and comfort working with neuropsychiatric disorders such as PDD/Autism, intellectual disability, ADHD, ODD, and bipolar disorder.
Current driver’s license or state-issued ID.
Ability to sustain activity and remain on feet for eight hours a day.
Ability to confront dangerous or aggressive patients and verbally communicate to de-escalate crises.
Ability to restrain patients according to facility policy.
Ability to frequently lift, carry, and lower 50 pounds without assistance; kneel, stoop, bend, and pull items or weights up to 50 pounds.
Ability to push patients in wheelchairs up and down hills, pursue running patients, traverse hospital grounds, and transfer patients to and from wheelchairs.
Ability to visually observe patients and communicate behavior verbally or in writing.
Ability to write legibly and grammatically, read medical records and other reports, and use hands repetitively for grasping, typing, and writing.
Regular and expected attendance; hearing and vision sufficient to perform essential job functions.

Nice To Haves

Current certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (OTR).
For employment on medical units: knowledge of neurodevelopmental treatment, motor control, neurological dysfunction and its effects on motor performance, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accidents, neuropsychological and physical disability evaluations, and appropriate occupational therapy interventions.

Responsibilities

Apply occupational therapy knowledge and interventions to address patients’ needs.
Use knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-motor disorders and their effects on developmental and psychosocial skills to guide treatment interventions.
Support psychosocial skills related to motivation, behavior control, interpersonal skills, and occupational performance.
Work with patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, including PDD/Autism, intellectual disability (described in the posting as “Mental Retardation”), ADHD, ODD, and bipolar disorder.
Communicate with patients to explain treatment and encourage active participation.
Verbally de-escalate crisis situations and help protect patients, self, and others from aggressive behavior or other incidents.
Restrain patients individually or as part of a team in accordance with facility policy.
Observe patient behavior and communicate or document relevant information in the medical record.
Read medical records and other reports.
Transfer patients to and from wheelchairs and push wheelchairs across hospital grounds, including hills.
Pursue running patients and traverse hospital grounds when required.