Occupational Therapist (26-27)

Occupational Therapist

Utilize clinical judgment and clinical knowledge to develop individualized programming based on performance deficits in the area of personal care, student role, interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication. Collaborate with other disciplines and services to plan and provide therapy to students with disabilities. Assess students and provide therapeutic intervention to maximize physical or mental functioning, increase independent functioning, and/or adjust to disabilities.

Identification, Evaluation and Planning:

1. Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to ensure an understanding of student performance strengths and needs, through evaluation, educational program planning and service delivery.
2. Evaluate the student's ability and formulate a therapy profile through a variety of functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observation, checklists, histories, and interviews.
3. Synthesize evaluation results into a comprehensive written report, which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment; direct program development; guide evidence-based intervention.
4. Develop intervention plans based on student needs and evaluation results.
5. Provide targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation within the school environment.
6. Consult with school-based team to achieve student outcomes.
7. Adapt and modify the environment including assistive technology.
8. Provide training for instructional staff to meet individual needs, and to help students function as independently as possible.
9. Design, construct, alter and provide students with adaptive equipment and devices to promote maximum independence.
10. Participate in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee to assist with the interpretation of assessment data, and goal setting for students according to district procedures.
11. Plan and provide direct and consultative services consistent with occupational therapy goals contained in Student's Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Service Delivery:

1. Provide targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and occupational performance within the school environment.
2. Consult with school-based team to achieve student outcomes.
3. Adapt and modify the environment including assistive technology and training instructional staff to meet individual needs and to help students function as independently as possible.
4. Educate students, educational personnel, and family to facilitate skills n areas of occupation as well as health maintenance and safety.
5. Monitor and reassess the effects of occupational therapy intervention and the need to continue, modify or discontinue intervention.
6. Document occupational therapy services to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate.
7. Establish control and administer discipline according to the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
8. Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the occupational therapy program and implement changes based on the findings.
9. Assist in the selection of equipment and adaptive material.
10. Develop and maintain effective individual and group relationships with students and parents.
11. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records and other documents required.
12. Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy.

Education:

1. Teach, monitor and collaborate with educational personnel, community agencies, parents and students to increase understanding of the student's occupational performance.
2. Provide continuing education for staff, parents, and community.
3. Consult with educational staff and parents regarding occupational therapy.
4. Provide staff development training at assigned schools to assist school personnel with selection and use of adaptive equipment and understanding of occupational therapy program.
5. Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant people to enhance their work with students.
6. Create an environment conducive to learning as appropriate for the maturity level, interests, and needs of the student.
7. Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment.
8. Use appropriate district approved physical safety techniques including restraint.
9. Dress and shoes appropriate to job responsibilities.

Program Administration and Management:

1. Prioritize and schedule work tasks independently.
2. Manage inventory of therapeutic equipment and assessments, and project needs for budget planning.
3. Maintain clinical and administrative records in accordance with professional standards, state guidelines, and local policy.
4. Provide legal and ethical supervision of occupational therapy assistant assuming responsibility for the students served by the assistant.
5. Adhere to federal and state legislation, regulation, and policies that affect occupational therapy practice.
6. Review occupational therapy services for quality improvement and make changes as needed to ensure quality of services.

Professional Growth and Ethics:

1. Participate in continuing education for professional development to ensure practice consistent with best practice and to meet licensure requirements.
2. Use professional literature, evidence-based research, and continuing education content to make practice decisions.
3. Use professional Code of Ethics and standards of practice to guide ethical decision making in practice.

SHARS/ MAC / RMTS: Northwest ISD participates in the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) and MAC programs which allows our district to request Medicaid reimbursement for certain health-related services. The Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines SHARS services.

As a special education staff member, you will be required to train and bill for SHARS reimbursements for students on your caseload. Trainings will be provided for SHARS, for RMTS (Random Moment in Time Studies), where staff are chosen randomly to answer a few questions, and for MAC (Diagnosticians and non-Personal Care Providers only). Training will be provided at the beginning of each school year as well as on an "as needed" basis for new hires.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Equipment Used: Personal computer, printer, copier, and FAX machine.

Working Conditions: Maintain emotional control under stress. Regular district-wide travel to multiple locations as assigned; frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling, moving of small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment. District-wide travel and occasional statewide travel may be required. May be required to lift and transfer students to and from wheelchairs or assist with positioning students with physical disabilities. Position requires frequent bending, stooping, twisting, pulling, overhead reaching, sitting, and keyboarding. Position requires the ability to lift 25 pounds to waist high.

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned, alternative methods of performing your duties, or skills that may be required.