Occupational Therapy Internship

Company Overview
Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services.

Program Overview
Youth Villages’ Residential Treatment programs serve children with emotional and behavioral problems. Our residential campuses provide the setting for an intensive treatment program that combines the unique balance of structure and freedom. This enables children and their families to identify, understand and cope with their individual needs and develop the skills necessary to succeed in less restrictive settings. We have three different types of facilities—Intensive Residential Centers, Open Campuses, and Group Homes. Located in Tennessee and Georgia, all of these facilities utilize the Re-Education of Emotionally Disturbed Children therapy model (Re-Ed). 

Site Specific Objectives
 
Occupational therapy students will develop entry level competencies for the Level II fieldwork by the end of the experience. Students completing Level II Fieldwork at Youth Villages are expected to meet the following criteria within 12 weeks:
 
Fundamentals of Practice (expected to meet these criteria within 6 weeks)

Student will consistently adhere to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics and Youth Villages policies and procedures:

Maintain all records in locked and secured spaces

Never discuss information about youth in front of other youth Avoid holding confidential conversations in public areas

Speak respectfully about the youth to others and speak to you th with developmentally appropriate respect

Review precautions for each youth (via email updates and chart review) and maintain a safe environment free of potential contraband throughout the occupational therapy process

Ensure all cabinets in treatment space remained locked, when not retrieving items from them, when youth are present in treatment space

Review treatment space for potential safety risks prior to treatment sessions and anticipate any potentially unsafe situations

Practice all safety measures employed by Youth Villages to maintain the safety of the youth and staff

Never leave a youth alone and never be alone with a youth

Communicate any safety concerns with appropriate personnel, including any unsafe behaviors that were presented during any aspect of occupational therapy treatment

Read and practice the patient’s Bill of Rights and HIPAA policies

Do not discuss a youth’s case or conditions unless in privacy with OT supervisor or other team members directly involved with the treatment of the youth

Treat all youth equally

Use EHR in a way that always protects confidentiality

Use headphones for virtual sessions and meetings to protect privacy

Seek guidance and assistance for maintaining safety of youth and self when student feels behaviors are beyond student’s level of competency for safety management

Basic Tenets 
Communicates the distinct value and perspective of occupational therapy to the interprofessional team working with youth at Youth Villages when completing staff and counselor interviews during the evaluation process and throughout treatment
Promotes collaboration with staff and counselors by asking open ended questions for input on youth needs, goals, barriers and supports for youth receiving 1:1 treatment prior to starting intervention 
Discusses desired occupations and expected outcomes with youth prior to planning goals and implementing group and individual treatment 
Articulates plan of care and treatment goals to youth and interprofessional team with the focus being on occupational participation
Confidently articulates occupational therapy’s role in the youth’s treatment to interpersonal professional team and to the youth
 
Screening and Evaluation
Reviews relevant information in youth’s chart history to compile information for occupational profile and precautions
Asks relevant questions and gathers information from staff members and counselors regarding their perceptions of youth’s strengths and barriers to successful occupational participation
Selects appropriate standardized screening and assessment measures for youth during the evaluation process
Communicates with youth in a developmentally appropriate way that facilitates their understanding of interview questions and therapeutic evaluation tasks
Accurately assesses values and desired occupations of youth and incorporates them into plan of care
Observes youth’s occupational performance in a variety of contexts to assess personal and environmental factors that support or hinder occupational participation
Reviews user manuals and utilizes standardized assessments with fidelity
Documents evaluation clearly and concisely with a focus on measuring increased engagement in occupation and role fulfillment
Is guided by evidence throughout entire evaluation process
 
Intervention
Articulates a clear and logical rationale for the intervention process based on the evaluation results, contexts, theories, frames of reference, practice models, and evidence 
Utilizes youth’s appropriate interests and occupational preferences in intervention sessions to promote ongoing development of positive self-identity and support achievement in targeted outcomes
Collaborates with interprofessional team for implementation of group intervention
Uses information from evidence to guide intervention decisions
Implements youth centered and occupation-based intervention plans (individual and group)
Utilizes group protocol to plan for group treatment sessions 
Adjusts (grades tasks up or down) as needed during intervention to support optimal performance
Modifies environment as needed to support occupational participation 
Seeks immediate guidance and assistance when presented behaviors are beyond student’s competency level for maintaining safety of self, staff, and youth 
Uses clinical judgment for determining if a youth needs to step away from or terminate an intervention activity
Documents rationale for intervention activities as they relate to targeted outcomes and occupational participation
Group notes state youth progress toward rehabilitation goals and group outcomes 
Accurately reflects progress toward treatment goals in documentation
Utilizes treatment/intervention approaches that demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the various frames of reference in occupational therapy practice 
 
Management of Occupational Therapy Services
Collaborates with and assigns tasks to occupational therapy assistant for plan of care
Collaborates with and coaches staff members for supporting occupational performance of identified youth
Utilizes occupational therapy equipment judiciously and with care
Ensures cleanliness, sanitization, and organization of treatment space and supplies
Alerts OT supervisor when supplies are low, including standardized assessments or items utilized for intervention
Selects activities that are cost efficient for group treatment sessions and requests OT to purchase items for group sessions 2 – 3 days in advance
Demonstrates working knowledge of Youth Village’s mission and vision
Meets volume of work expected from occupational therapy students
 
Communication and Professional Behaviors
Maintains positive relationship with staff at all levels; does not engage in gossip
Listens to perspectives of youth and staff members with openness
Accepts constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth and implements feedback as a part of performance improvement
Utilizes trauma informed responses when communicating with youth; never relies on forced compliance as a part of therapeutic intervention
Actively engages in self-reflection and independently seeks to improve performance
Demonstrates positive outlook for youth’s ability to reach treatment goals when discussing youth with interprofessional team
Produces clear and accurate documentation
Collaborates with fieldwork educator to maximize learning experience
Independently seeks out learning opportunities to increase competency and knowledge
Demonstrates consistent and acceptable work behaviors
Arrives on-time to all meetings and commitments
Attends interprofessional meetings when necessary and communicates respectfully and with confidence
Communicates any perceived obstacles or challenges with completing occupational therapy process to fieldwork educator in a timely, professional manner
Demonstrates effective time management
Completes weekly assignments in detail without prompts 
Initiates weekly review of midterm goals and reports progress to supervisor 
Plans ahead for completion of long-term assignments
Manages relationships effectively through therapeutic use of self and adjusts approach to meet needs of youth and staff members
Demonstrates cultural humility when interacting with youth and staff at all levels
Reflects and analyzes clinical problem-solving using journal, peer & group supervision 
 
 

Requirements
Must be enrolled in Occupational Therapy program. 

Physical Requirements :
Duties performed in these types of environments are often highly stressful and potentially physical. Candidates must be able to participate in all physical interventions including all indoor/outdoor therapeutic activities (hiking ,ropes, etc). In addition, working with our troubled youth requires a certain level of stamina and temperament. One must also have the ability to bend, stoop, squat and lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

Y outh Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.