DSHS ESH Occupational Therapist

Eastern State Hospital is hiring for an Occupational Therapist 2 to join our team in Medical Lake, WA. In this position, you’ll help adults with serious mental health needs regain skills for everyday life. Your work will focus on building each patient’s independence, safety, and confidence through therapy programs tailored to their needs.

You’ll design and deliver therapy programs that focus on thinking skills, movement, self-care, and social connection. You’ll work side-by-side with patients, coaching them through daily living activities, encouraging positive behaviors, and guiding them toward their recovery goals.

This is a hands-on clinical role where you’ll assess abilities, create treatment plans, and guide patients through activities that strengthen thinking, movement, self-care, and social skills. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to make sure therapy is safe, effective, and part of each patient’s overall recovery plan.

Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

Schedule:

Monday
- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Saturday-Sunday off.

• Creatively develop occupation-based group interventions applicable to clients’ needs and institutional goals
• Evaluate and assess patients to determine their current level of occupational performance
• Determine rehabilitation potential, evaluate clients’ needs, and plan treatment programs
• Develop treatment goals, objectives, and interventions appropriate to age, abilities, and projected occupational roles
• Collaborate with patients, treatment teams, and other practitioners in the establishment of a treatment plan
• Consult with others concerning patient strengths, needs, and functional levels
• Implement treatment, modify as needed, and provide follow-up
• Instruct and direct Certified OT Assistants on clinical issues
• Document patient response to interventions
• Communicate with patients, staff, significant others, and community members

Professionals that have the following:

• Graduated from an accredited Occupational Therapy program
• Successfully completed the National Board Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination
• An active license by the state of Washington as an Occupational Therapist to practice occupational therapy
• And 18 months of professional occupational therapy experience

Equivalent education/experience may qualify.

• Work effectively with people diagnosed with chronic and/or acute mental illness and polysubstance use
• Stay calm and professional while working with patients displaying difficult behaviors, including during volatile situations
• Safely de-escalate patients in crisis using proven therapeutic techniques
• Apply mental illness recovery principles to guide treatment planning and patient engagement
• Notice and interpret changes in patient behavior and abilities to inform care
• Share information clearly and respectfully with patients, families, and staff
• Use electronic health records and other technology to document care and track progress

The Department of Social and Health Services’ vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and…