Licensed Practitioner/ Animal Assisted Therapist with Security Clearance - Bethesda, MD, United States - 4S-Silversword Software and Services

Description

Location- Bethesda, MD

Job Type:
Full-time Licensed Practitioner / Animal Assisted Therapist needed - Help our Veterans 4S - Silversword Software and Services, LLC (4S) has an immediate opening for a Licensed Practitioner/ Animal Assisted Therapist at our Bethesda, Maryland program location
Service dog training experience or utilization is preferred
If you are a passionate, experience, licensed practitioner who loves dogs, this just might be your dream job With our partner Warrior Canine Connection, we are offering a unique and highly effective service dog training model known as Mission Based Trauma Recovery
In short, active duty Service Members and Military Veterans with combat related traumatic brain injury and stress related illnesses are engaged to help us train purpose bred dogs to be service dogs
By learning to train service dogs, these Warrior Trainers are given a chance to develop practical skills such as patience, positive reinforcement, emotional regulation, and effective communication skills, while simultaneously helping to prepare the dog to assist a fellow injured Veteran in the future
Our service dogs learn up to 90 commands during a comprehensive, two-year training process
After those two years of training, the dogs are professionally matched with a Veteran with disabilities who has mobility impairments or psychological injuries
As a 4S Animal Assisted Therapist, you will screen service members and veterans for eligibility to participate in the program, work with the service animal training instructors (SATI) to structure training sessions that map to clinical outcomes, support and observe one-on-one instruction and teach small group classes to these volunteer Warrior Trainers
For the current opening, most of the work will occur at a military medical facility in Bethesda, Maryland where our unique program is offered as a compliment to clinical treatment programs
This position requires service dog training experience or utilization in a program setting, as well as state licensure and at least two years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), occupational therapist (OT), or related clinical field
(Please see the complete list of qualifications below) This is a job that will truly make a difference in the world, and in the lives of the individual Veterans and Service Members we work with every day

What the job involves:

• Provide medical referral and supervision of training sessions with purpose bred dogs to be service dogs, from puppyhood to advanced training, through various onsite and field activities.
• Observe and participate in one-to-one instruction and provide and support small group instruction on service dog training to volunteer Warrior Trainers recovering from both the hidden and visible wounds of war (e.g

Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other psychological health or physical injuries) that will provide opportunities for patients to develop improved cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional competencies.

• Be eligible for credentialing and privileging at WRNMMC.
• Work with the SATI to match animal training activities to the desired clinical outcomes for wounded warriors and documents the sessions and progress in the client electronic medical record.
• Track and enter medical encounter data, daily activities and complete required forms and reports in a timely manner.
• Maintain a clean, safe environment for the dogs and humans at the program sites.
• Comply with or exceed Assistance Dog International minimum standards and ethics.
• Participate in staff meetings, professional development and community activities as directed.
• Responsible for providing clinically based interventions to health care beneficiaries through the implementation of an animal assisted therapy program.
• Monitor and contribute to therapeutic service animal training sessions in accordance with program standards (e.g., based on positive methods of shaping behavior) and targeted therapeutic goals.
• Establish specific patient goals and objectives for the individual application of the animal assisted therapy program,
• Collaborate and align these goals to support the overall clinical goals established for the patient by the referring provider / interdisciplinary team.
• Provide professional judgment with a flexible use of a wide range of clinical skills to support health care beneficiaries presenting many combinations of vocational, education, physical, social, and emotional problems.
• Monitor efficacy and outcomes of both individual treatment sessions and over the course of therapy.
• Maintain encounter reports, metrics, patient documentation and program administrative documentation as needed according to the needs of the military program manager.
• Effectively use of the military electronic medical record (EMR).
• Provide ongoing assessment of the progress of the patient towards established clinical goals as relates to the application of the animal assisted therapy modality

These metrics will be in conjunction with other ongoing quality assurance and outcomes projects.

• Independently plan, design and carry out actions to accomplish the mission.
• Serve as an integral and critical clinical member of the integrated diagnostic, evaluation, treatment planning, education and research teams.
• Coordinate with appropriate team members to ensure compliance with HIPAA, patient goals, research guidelines, medical record requirements, and installation regulations.
• Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team of providers across different healthcare specialties, and provides consultative services to other team members as required.
• Participate fully in assigned Quality Management / Utilization Management programs and initiatives

The Animal Assisted Therapist shall be responsible for updating and implementing Standard Operating Procedures of the clinical practice, not limited to participating in Joint Commission (JCAHO) mock accreditation exercises and the Joint Commission audits.

• Coordinate, liaison and serve as NICoE representative for academic contributors / collaboration on the animal assisted therapy program.
• As required, participate in research related to rehabilitative and animal assisted therapy outcomes, efficacy and interventions.
• Act as an educational resource for Wounded Warriors and their families who have questions surrounding service animals and/or display interest in applying for a service animal in the future
• Responsible for advocating for the industry's use of service animals in clinically appropriate and therapeutic ways, (e.g., reducing isolation, recognizing stress cues), rather than uses that reinforce negative symptomology (e.g., blocking, security, intimidation).
• Represent and serve as an advocate for Wounded Warriors and their families in obtaining services and support related to service animals for their individual and/or special needs; follows through on each case to ensure that provisions for ongoing social services are identified and initiated prior to the Warrior's return to the community.
• Identify and refer families who may be candidates for the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) in accordance with DoD policies and procedures

In the determination of family violence, intervenes in accordance with policy and program guidance as specified by the Family Advocacy Program - DoD Directive

• Serve as a subject-matter expert on the roles that service animals can have in addressing psychosocial problems in collaboration with clinicians in other medical specialties.
• Work in collaboration with interdisciplinary team consisting of, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and case managers.
• Comply with all plans of care and medical instructions for patients issued by Licensed Independent Providers (LIP) such as physicians, therapists, and psychologists.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other agencies within the DoD, to include the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), the Defense Health Agency and its component centers, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as other federal and civilian academic collaborators.
• May be required to travel with patients as part of the staff for therapy activities

Should the travel for such activities be funded by proffer to the Government from a recognized non-profit organization, such travel must first be approved and accepted by the Staff Judge Advocate and Medical Center Director per established procedures before the Contractor may take part.

• Dress professionally yet appropriately for constant interaction with animals and patients in a hospital setting.
• In coordination with the Lead, Division of Wellness and other NICoE/WRNMMC clinical leadership, participate fully in established Program Evaluation and Quality Management / Utilization Management programs and initiatives for improvement of warrior and family services and clinical operations related to the implementation of and conduct of quality improvement strategies.
• Participate fully in the Peer Review Program as appropriate for the specific licensed clinical specialty of the contract provider

Required Experience, Skills, Background:

• Possess appropriate higher education, current state licensure in the jurisdiction in which the service is performed, and at least two years clinical experience as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), occupational therapist (OT), or a related clinical field

These positions require privileging and credentialing at WRNMMC and/or FBCH, as applicable
Must comply with all NCR-MD credentialing requirements as detailed by the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff

This includes peer review of medical documentation, discipline required continuing education, and all other requirements as detailed by regulation or directives.

• Have experience working in a healthcare environment, p