Psychosocial Occupational Therapist

The County of Santa Clara; California; On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Clara seeks an experienced Occupational Therapist to deliver restorative, functional, and preventative therapeutic services across county hospitals and clinics. The role emphasizes evaluation-driven activity programs and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Candidates must hold an OT license in California and NBCOT registration, with at least one year in a mental health setting. Travel to alternate sites may be required, and the position supports staff supervision and program

Qualifications

• One year of full-time occupational therapy experience in a mental health setting.
• Valid California OT license in good standing with NBCOT registration.
• Willingness to travel to alternate locations and obtain county driver authorization if required.

Responsibilities

• Provide occupational therapy services in restorative, functional, and preventative programs.
• Plan and organize activity programs for evaluation and therapeutic purposes.
• Supervise OT trainees, interns, and volunteers as assigned.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team on treatment, progress, and discharge planning.
• Maintain patient records and prepare reports.

Skills

English usage

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

California OT License

NBCOT Certification

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

Under direction, to provide professional services in restorative, functional, and preventative therapeutic programs to assigned mental health patients; to plan and organize activity programs, utilizing activities as an evaluation tool and as a therapeutic process.

The Power of WE

Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital

O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital

Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 265-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life‑threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

• Clinically supervises and instructs patients in the following areas: perceptual motor, sensory integration, community re‑integration, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (including but not limited to hygiene, grooming, homemaking);
• Administers various evaluations to assess patient's cognitive and functional levels and develops appropriate treatment programs;
• Instructs family in patient care;
• Maintains records and prepares reports according to divisional procedures;
• Evaluates the need for and orders durable medical equipment for psychiatric patients with physical disabilities;
• When assigned to outpatient programs, conducts home visits for client assessment;
• Transports and trains clients in community transportation;
• Consults with contract agencies and conducts agency site visits;
• Coordinates with multi‑disciplinary medical team on patient's treatment, progress, and discharge planning;
• Assists with service program assessment, development, and change implementation;
• Clinically supervises and instructs OT trainees, paraprofessionals, interns, students, and volunteers, as assigned;
• Keeps current on new treatment techniques, including assessment and management of client assaultive behavior;
• Attends, participates in, and assists in developing and/or presenting in‑service programs;
• Under the guidance of administration, organizes and implements research endeavors pertinent to assigned service and division;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note:

The required knowledge and abilities are attained throughone(1) year of full time occupational therapy experience in a mental health setting.

Special Requirements

• Possess and maintain a valid license, or provisional license, according to the California Occupational Therapy Practice Act, to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the State of California, in good standing, without restrictions, for the duration of employment in this classification.
• Possess and maintain current registration, in good standing, with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100‑3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW‑related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, and theory of the practice of Occupational Therapy;
• Pathologies and injuries that result in psychiatric impairment;
• Basic principles of psychology and abnormal psychology;
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
• Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

• Interpret physicians’ orders;
• Evaluate psychiatric patients’ abilities and deficits in keeping with department standards;
• Develop, implement, and adapt treatment programs;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, patients, representatives of other agencies, and others;
• Explain Occupational Therapy techniques to staff and trainees;
• Maintain accurate records and prepare meaningful reports;
• Supervise others in direct and indirect patient care;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.