Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Reports To: OT and PT Coordinator

Job Goal: Provide quality occupational therapy services, including assessment, intervention, program planning and implementation, discharge planning and communication. Service provision includes both direct and consultative approaches.

Salary: $63,000.00. Additional $1000.00 for each additional year of experience up to 8 years; $700.00 for each additional year of experience beyond 8 years.

Qualifications: Equivalent to a degree in occupational therapy; and hold a NBCOT certification and Illinois State Occupational Therapy license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Strong management, written and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work independently and seek appropriate resources and support. Have knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Function according to the AOTA Code of Ethics (AOTA, 2020) and Standards of Practice (AOTA, 2015). Have knowledge of basic theory-based treatments and modalities appropriate in the educational setting including current evidence-based research. Understand special education process and the role of the occupational therapist to provide a continuum of services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Determine the need for assessment and/or provide educational team with strategies and recommendations to support a student prior to special education referral
• Identify and utilize appropriate tools and methods for assessment/evaluation
• Collaborate/consult with educational team to determine student need areas/priorities and goal/outcomes to be addressed when developing IEP's
• Develop intervention plans including present level of performance, measurable goals, appropriate therapeutic priorities and methods to achieve stated goals.
• Implement the intervention plan directly or in collaboration with other team members
• Adapt environment, tools, materials and activities according to the need of the student, providing clear directions to team
• Embed appropriate interventions and strategies into naturally occurring routines and activities of the student's school day, providing clear directions to ensure carryover into student day and safe physical management of student
• Reassess the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and strategies, modifying plan as needed
• Use progress reports and/or data collection methods and annual review documents to communicate student progress, therapeutic methods and their effectiveness
• Write reports effectively, communicating the critical information succinctly and thoroughly
• Use appropriate data collection instrument(s) and methods to accurately gather information needed to determine student progress and response to interventions
• Terminate services as appropriate using exit guidelines in collaboration with educational team
• Follow policies and procedures required in the setting
• Manage resources (time/space/equipment) to meet needs of student and/or team
• Demonstrate timely and consistent follow-through with paperwork, referrals, reports, logs, and other team requests/needs
• Organize and manage schedule to meet the needs of students and building/program teams. Be on time for workday and meetings
• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with professionals and paraprofessionals demonstrating professional behavior at all times
• Establish a climate enabling students to work efficiently
• Demonstrate leadership qualities (mentoring, inservice training, serving on committees, participating in professional organizations, supervision of assistants and students)
• Provide modeling and training to teams as appropriate. Achieve and maintain high standards of professional competence. Identify and pursue own professional growth and development. Keep abreast of current evidence-based practice as it relates to the field of occupational therapy. Examines ethical dilemmas using ethical reasoning to guide decisions and actions and reflects on the results

Working Conditions: Maintain emotional control under stress. Regular districtwide travel to multiple work locations as assigned. Physical demands include: frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, pulling, lifting and transferring students to and from wheelchairs, and assisting with positioning students with physical disabilities. Exposure to biological hazards.