Occupational Therapist

Position Title: Occupational Therapist

Term of Employment: Full-Time; 10 months

Reports To: Director of Exceptional Children

Pay Information: SG 78

General Statement of Job

An employee in this class provides specialized occupational therapy services for eligible school students. Work involves evaluating students to determine need for occupational therapy; developing appropriate therapy programs, including routines for classroom and home adaptation; and providing therapy to students. Services include direct service and/or consultation with school staff, families, medical personnel, community agencies, and others as needed. Employee is responsible for documenting planning and treatment activities, preparing reports of students' progress, and consulting with parents and classroom teachers. Employee is also responsible for modifications of equipment and/or environment and in-service training. Problems that arise in the treatment program are expected to be resolved independently.

Essential Job Functions

• Assesses students using appropriate evaluation tools including standardized tests, clinical observations, and review of medical and educational reports to determine need for therapy intervention plan.

• Develops and implements individualized therapy programs for qualifying students.

• Documents screenings, evaluations, Individual Education Plans, progress reports, classroom/home programs and other data, as required.

• Provides consultation with classroom teachers and other school staff regarding students' optional function in the school environment.

• Provides classroom programs, instruction in management techniques, adapted equipment, and environmental modifications including the identification of architectural barriers.

• Consults with parents and/or guardians regarding students' therapy programs.

• Adapts, fabricates and maintains specialized equipment required for therapy services or student needs.

• Investigates and recommends types of equipment available to meet student needs, funding sources, and vendor options, including insurance forms and letters of justification.

• Provides in-service training to teachers and other school personnel, as needed, assists with education, orientation and preparation of receiving school staff and students regarding issues, concerns and information about "inclusion" of exceptional children in regular school and classroom programs.

• Supervises occupational therapist assistants.

• Provides clinical education for therapy student interns from colleges and universities.

• Plans, orders and maintains departmental supplies and equipment; maintains records as required.

• Travels between locations where students require services.

• Maintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with State Guidelines and school board policy.

• Completes random moment in time studies as required by MAC program guidelines.

• Knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools.

• Participates in continuing education for professional development to ensure practice consistent with established best practice and NC licensure requirements.

• Performs other related work as directed by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of human development throughout life span, integrated with student's unique developmental status.

• Thorough knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of occupational therapy.

• Knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools.

• Considerable knowledge of appropriate evaluation tools.

• Skill in effective oral and written communication.

• Must have the ability to research and determine evidence based practice supporting therapy interventions.

• Ability to collaborate with school personnel, families and agencies to address student needs.

• Ability to interpret evaluation data and write a comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers (if any) to student participation and occupational performance.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and parents, school staff and general public

Minimum Training and Experience

• Graduation from a four-year accredited program of occupational therapy and two years of experience or a master's degree in occupational therapy; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Licensed as an occupational therapist by the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy.

• Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina.

Minimum Qualifications or Standards Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 40 pounds of force.

• Work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing, walking and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or 3 pulling and lifting.

• Work has standard vision requirements.

• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.

• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.

• Work occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to vibration and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment. Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.