OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

Occupational Therapy AssistantThe Occupational Therapy Assistant performs occupational therapy procedures to help acute or rehabilitative patients with mental or physical disabilities attain, regain, or maintain physical or mental functioning, and performs structured assessments and screenings.Essential Job FunctionsWhat You'll Be Doing:Assists occupational therapists in patient evaluation by performing standardized gross evaluation procedures including range of motion measurement, grasp and pinch measurement, and homemaking checkout. Performs a variety of functional tests to assess patients' self-care level. Engages patients in targeted exercises or exercises developed to explore their interests, therapy needs, performance capacities, and physical and/or mental limitations.Facilitates patient participation in therapy activities by discussing with patients their goals and treatment objectives, selecting specific tasks or activities most appropriate to patients' needs and interests, and encouraging and motivating patients to participate in the treatment program.Advances the patients through progressively more difficult or strenuous activities, and modifies activities based upon observations of the patients' developmental stage, performance, and interest.Implements treatment procedures to stimulate muscle activity to develop or improve movement, including exercise, activities of daily living, arts and crafts activities, homemaking skills, social activities and games crafted to help patient reach, regain, or preserve both physical and mental functioning.Selects and applies equipment, machines, tools, materials, and supplies appropriate for patient treatment including pulleys, lapboards, towels and dowels and ambulatory slings.Provides education to patients and their families about the use and care of equipment and devices. Examples include exercisers, mobile arm supports, splints, adaptive utensils, self-care aids, and craft activity tools.Updates patients' records as to progress in therapy and treatment goals and reports observations to occupational therapists, other providers and agencies to provide total care.RequirementsRequirements to Qualify:Education & Training:Satisfactory completion of an occupational therapy assistant curriculum approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).License:Current certification or a limited permit for certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant by the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT).A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.Withhold Information No withhold will be allowed for this examination. Required education and licensure must be fully met at the time of filing and clearly indicated on the application.Physical Class III - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.Desirable Qualification(s): Additional credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualification(s) subsequent to graduation:Experience assisting occupational therapists with therapeutic procedures and treatment programs in a hospital, clinic, rehabilitation center, or residential care facility setting.Experience assisting occupational therapists with therapeutic procedures and treatment programs in a school, learning center, or home care setting.