Occupational Therapist

Job description

Summary 

U-turn is a leading organisation in developing pathways out of homelessness. A new position has opened for an occupational therapist to join the U-turn team. The Occupational Therapist will head up the programme that covers the first 2 intervention phases of the full U-turn programme in Wynberg, Cape Town. He/she will report directly to the centre manager and work under the clinical direction of the clinical manager in the area. 

This position
The Occupational Therapist is responsible for implementing the programmes and centre, preparing homeless individuals for referral to the work-readiness programme or alternative long-term residential programmes that support long-term reintegration outcomes. The role will require a thorough understanding of addiction and strong networking and problem-solving ability. 

The OT will have the assistance of a Recovery Coach to help facilitate groups and peer-workers/programme staff to assist with service delivery. The OT’s role will be to set up the programme at the new centre, grading activities and ensuring the environment is conducive to development, train staff in relevant client-management principles, as well as providing the necessary group and individual intervention to see clients successfully through the first stage of the U-turn programme.

Service Centres
U-turns Service Centres provide services to people living on the streets, to prepare them for and to support them on a journey of change. This includes providing food and clothing, therapeutic and development-based interventions, and recovery support for those struggling with substance abuse. The ultimate aim of the Service Centre is to prepare individuals to participate in our work-based rehabilitation programme.

Work-readiness program
The work-readiness department forms part of the Life Change Journey and is tasked with providing work-based rehabilitation and skills development training that prepares clients for graduation into the open labour market and reintegration into the community. One day a week, each client attends a therapy and training day where they access group therapy, counselling, and input using a specially designed curriculum. This cycle of learning and then application follows a graded approach and continues for as long as needed. It takes an average of 18 months to coordinate the entire intervention programme for the clients and work in close collaboration with the worksite managers.

Key areas of responsibility

• Oversee the outcomes of the Change-readiness and Rehab Support programmes at the centre. 
• Plan daily activity groups for clients still living on the street (often still in active addiction) and train staff to facilitate groups effectively to create graded,  meaningful engagement and increase motivation for change. 
• Oversee the voucher earning programme, ensuring meaningful gradable tasks and train staff in running the Voucher Earning  programme effectively.
• Conduct a bio-psycho-social assessment with clients attending regularly and who are ready to commit to taking the next steps into a structured treatment programme. 
• Complete necessary referrals to adequate treatment centres (in and outpatient, as well as mental health facilities) and accommodation options. 
• Case-manage enrolled clients, keeping them accountable to programme goals and outcomes and ensuring access to all necessary services and support to meet these outcomes. 
• Run Recovery skills groups as a supplement to the treatment clients receive at third-party programmes. 
• Supervise the peer-interns’ work practices and train them on group facilitation, understanding addiction.
• Create referral networks for accommodation, medical and mental health treatment and 
• Use and contribute to existing planning and record-keeping systems to ensure continuous improvement of your areas of responsibility.

Experience and Skills

• Qualified Occupational therapist with updated registration. 
• Experience in the field of addiction and/or mental health treatment 
• Driver’s license 
• An individual with strong self-management and problem-solving skills

Personal attributes

• Passion for U-turn’s mission and values.
• Strong leadership with a collaborative mindset.
• Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Organisational Fit (where applicable) 

• If in recovery - actively engaged in own ongoing recovery, accessing accountability support and practicing recovery behaviour
• If employed as a Professional - affiliation with a professional board, continued personal development and accessing supervision.
• Gospel orientation - connected to a local fellowship of believers, reading the Bible and grounded in Gospel-motivated Social Action

Company Description

U-turn is a thriving non-profit that exists to give homeless people the skills to overcome homelessness. Founded in 1997, we believe in life after homelessness. We believe that every homeless individual should have access to an effective pathway that addresses their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs so they can leave the streets and become a long-term productive member of society.

To help homeless people overcome homelessness, we operate a phased approach that includes rehabilitation from substance abuse, counseling, life-skills training, and work placement in one of our social enterprises. This allows candidates to test and apply the training they’ve received. In the process, the programme inculcates a healthy work ethic, furnishes modern job skills, and gives 18-24 months of real work experience so that individuals can graduate and be gainfully employed in the South African economy.

The programme is yielding wonderful results. Our candidates typically graduate into open market employment and show an 80% long-term success rate! We are actively working to expand the programme to more locations in Cape Town and across South Africa.

Posted on 09 Sep 09:20, Closing date 31 Oct