Occupational Therapist

Description

Aspire Antoino Maria Lugo Academy is seeking an Occupational Therapist

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

JOB SUMMARY

• Knowledge of federal and state special education law and best practices for special education.

• Evaluates student performance including but not limited to fine motor tasks, sensory impairments, perceptual motor skills, posture and movement.

• Provides occupational therapy services to students to enable them to access the academic program in their educational setting.

• Attends IEP meetings to report student progress and share present levels of performance.

• Collects baseline data to create  measurable IEP goals and objectives.  Regularly collects, maintains and reports data related to student’s IEP goals and benchmarks to promote student development. 

• Provides consultation and collaboration related to sensory-motor development and other identified developmental needs to students.

• Maintains communication with families in order to provide information, coordinate programs, and coordinate community services.

• Provides education, training, and support to families related to student programming needs, recommends adaptive equipment and individualized supports.

• Maintains flexibility and collaborative nature at all times to ensure school programs align with changing regulations and requirements.

• Provides student therapy to support the functional development and/or adaptations/modification in sensory, fine and/or gross motor domains.

• Identify, evaluate and design adaptive equipment to assist students in self-care and academic activities

• Works cooperatively with personnel and/or agencies providing services to the student or family.

• Administer complete educationally related assessment including observations, record review, standardized/non standardized testing in areas of suspected disability, interpret results, provide a comprehensive written report and present findings at IEP meetings. 

• Visit students’ educational environments to assess adaptive equipment needs to allow eligible individuals to participate in educationally-relevant activities.

• Input weekly IEP service tracking and meet all IEP timelines

• Create and maintain notifications, records, files, and reports as required by federal, state, and SELPA regulations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Additional:

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior. 

• Comfortable with utilization of technology in a remote environment.

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies:

• Ability to effectively handle attitudes and behaviors of students.

• Ability to manage and use time effectively.

• Ability to act professionally at all times.

• Ability to maintain student performance documentation.

• Ability to manage student behavior and treatment programs.

• Ability to provide effective implementation of treatment objectives.

Minimum educational level:

• Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution. 

• Current Certification through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) 

• Current license to practice Occupational Therapy through the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT)

Experience required:

• Prefer a Minimum of 3 years of experience providing occupational therapy services (but not required)

• Prefer a minimum of 1-year experience providing occupational therapy services to children in school settings

Physical requirements:

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

•  Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

• Communicating with others to exchange information.

• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Work authorization requirements: 

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening.

• Authorized to work in the United States.

• Provide health (TB) clearance (renewed every four years). 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics are representative of those in a normal office, classroom/school setting which one might encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Aspire Public Schools has implemented a Remote Work policy.   This position may also require periodic travel to school sites in order to interact with school leaders.

• Work indoors in a standard office environment, computer lab, and/or classroom environment.

• Work is performed in indoor and outdoor environments.

• Exposure to dust, oils, and cleaning chemicals.

• Some exposure to childhood and other diseases in a school environment.

• May be required to work outside of typical work days and office hours to meet operational deadlines.

EEO STATEMENT

Aspire Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.  The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant.