Intern - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Intern is part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and uses clinical skills from their current training in occupational therapy and related areas to plan, organize, and implement ancillary services. The intern screens patients’ capabilities, needs, interests, and goals to support individualized treatment consistent with the team’s goals. The role includes therapeutic groups and individual treatments, establishing therapeutic relationships, contributing to treatment planning, and supporting patients in various clinical settings and across diverse populations. The intern is expected to provide excellent customer service, demonstrate enthusiasm for the program and Pine Rest, and model the organization’s mission and values through professional conduct and communication. The position also includes safety monitoring, crisis intervention and prevention, required documentation and training, and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Enrollment in an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree program for Occupational Therapy Assistant, or a similar degree program leading to eligibility to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam.
Knowledge of current therapy principles in the relevant area, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducational interventions, expressive arts, and occupational therapies.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
Successful completion of a criminal background check and education verification.

Nice To Haves

Relevant psychiatric, medical, or clinical experience is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Screen patient care needs, support and implement treatment plans with the interdisciplinary team, and reassess plans according to patient needs.
Plan and participate in milieu programming, including teaching, skill-building, and therapy groups.
Provide individual treatments as assigned and appropriate.
Establish therapeutic relationships with patients.
Contribute to interdisciplinary treatment plans as a team member.
Monitor and report potential patient-safety risks to the manager and unit leaders.
Use processes to conserve financial resources.
Document and report information according to established policies and procedures.
Maintain a patient-friendly environment by following quality improvement standards and acting professionally.
Participate in safety management, crisis intervention, and prevention, including monitoring, assessment, verbal de-escalation, and emergency psychiatric and medical care.
Work in various clinical settings with diverse patient populations.
Serve on committees as needed.
Promote positive communication among treatment-team members.
Collaborate in follow-up related to disciplinary action.
Collaborate with the AT Clinical Services Manager and Recreational Therapy Leads regarding internships and other departmental activities.
Model the organization’s mission and values and present a professional image through appearance, attitude, behavior, time management, and communication.
Provide spiritual, emotional, social, mental, and physical support to patients.
Maintain annual training and demonstrate competency in required programmatic training.
Perform other duties as assigned.