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Occupational Therapist

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Meets the standards of Competent and Ethical Performance. The following are examples of principle duties; however, any one position may not cover all duties listed and examples may not cover all duties an employee is expected to perform.

  • Create and model a respectful learning environment. 

  • Effectively work with and respond to people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. 

  • Evaluate children’s level of functioning in fine motor, visual motor, visual perceptual, sensory processing, self-help, safe feeding and independent foundational skills. 

  • Interpret standardized assessments and/or functional performance and compose results of evaluation in a timely and user-friendly manner. 

  • Provide therapeutic interventions in motor, adaptive, social-emotional, and sensory areas. 

  • Coordinate treatment with other specialists. 

  • Instruct children in the use of a variety of strategies, adaptive devices and/or assistive technology to facilitate academic access and independent functioning. Monitor ongoing effective use of strategies, equipment, technology, and/or protocols and guidelines.

  • Maintain required documentation related to occupational therapy intervention and service in a timely and professional manner. 

  • Complete insurance and disability forms as necessary.

  • Clearly communicates, orally or in writing, with staff, parents, and when appropriate with other professional agencies.

  • Act in a professional manner when discussing student or school issues while maintaining confidentiality. 

  • Seek professional development both to update knowledge and skills for practice as a therapist and to fulfill continuing education requirements for maintaining state licensure. 

  • Maintain accurate, complete and confidential records as required by law. 

  • Utilize technology as related to job responsibilities. 

  • Reflect upon your own performance and accept and utilize supervisory suggestions and feedback. 

  • Take primary responsibility for pursuing and evaluating your own professional growth. 

  • Attend and participate in staff meetings and district inservice meetings.

  • Participate in activities that are related to center functions that occur outside the regular workday.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

 

GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Perform learning enhancement duties in a courteous and efficient manner that builds the confidence of staff, parents, children, and the public.

  • Maintain regular attendance at work and work activities, be punctual in meeting deadlines, attending meetings, and following schedule. 

  • Observe laws, procedures, and professional standards for this position. 

  • Work effectively and collaboratively with diverse children, parent, and community populations. 

  • Carry out work responsibilities with strong organizational skills effectively under pressure of: deadlines, difficult situations, interruptions, and new or emergency conditions. 

  • Respect confidential information and the privacy of children, staff and parents. 

 

GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED: 

  • Collect, record, store, retrieve, assimilate, organize, and utilize information and records electronically and with traditional methods. 

  • Provide supervision for COTAs as directed. 

  • Develop job skills necessary to meet changes in the position. 

  • Maintain personal appearance and hygiene appropriate to the position. 

  • Meet applicable district physical ability/health and safety guidelines for the position. 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • Hold a valid license granted by the Alabama Occupational Therapy Licensing Board.

  • Graduation from an accredited program of Occupational Therapy. Successful completion of the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

  • Knowledge of current occupational therapy theory, pediatric evaluation tools, evaluation techniques, therapeutic interventions, and school setting service provisions. 

  • Effective oral and written communication skills. 

  • Ability to listen with empathy and understanding for others who have concerns to express.

  • Ability to exhibit professionalism and effective human relations.

  • Ability to effectively manage and supervise children and their work. 

  • Ability to facilitate meetings and collaboration efforts with staff and community. 

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • Frequent or prolonged sitting. 

  • Crouching, squatting, crawling.

  • Reaching, pulling, pushing and lifting. 

  • Work may occasionally involve moderate to high noise levels. 

  • Frequent and prolonged talking/listening in conversations/meetings. 

  • Requires accurate perceiving of sound. 

  • Requires handling and working with a variety of materials and objects. 

  • Work may occasionally involve lifting/carrying objects weighing 50 or more pounds.

  • Possible exposure to bodily fluids due to student injury or illness. 

  • Possible exposure to bodily harm due to student behaviors. 

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. 

  • This position is primarily performed indoors in clinic buildings, although some outdoor instruction and supervision are required. 

  • This position involves working in close proximity to groups of children and adults. 

  • This position will require:

  • Assisting children in going to the bathroom. 

  • Changing a child’s diapers or clothing.

  • Wiping children’s noses and mouths.

  • Walking or carrying children to / from car.

  • Ensuring the child remains safe until you walk them to their parents/family or another therapist.

 

NOTE: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The center may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this (or the position itself) at any time it deems advisable. 

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