School Occupational Therapist

Title: Occupational Therapist (OT)
Reports to: Sr. Director of Clinical & Educational Services
Department:   School Occupational Therapy and Early Star
Location:   Ideally at two sites 5350 Machado Road, Culver City 90230 & 2225 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Part-Time at each site
Program Hours :  Any day Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Position is based on a school-year calendar that may change each year and includes an unpaid summer recess.
Supervisory Responsibility:   None

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of School Programs or Principal and the Early Start Program Manager, provide comprehensive occupational therapy case management for OT clients.  Document client treatment and participate in patient conferences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive occupational therapy case management and prescribe services for all OT assessed students in a manner that is congruent with ECF’s mission.  This includes reviewing and understanding student history, current needs of student, and preparation of treatment plans relevant to current goals.  
• Prepare and present IEP’s to parents and team members.  Use alternate forms of communication as needed to provide updates.
• Communicate and consult in a tactful and diplomatic manner with students, parents and co-workers at all times. Initiate consultation with school staff and other providers. Function as a member of the multidisciplinary team.  The occupational therapist is not only responsible for the basic theory and skill of his or her discipline, but also must have a basic knowledge of the skills of the other team members.
• Ensure documentation accurately reflects current client status, treatment modalities, techniques, response to treatment and changes in client status. Perform regular client evaluations, reassessing client’s status and modify treatment plan as appropriate.
• Organize and implement a home exercise program for all approved clients receiving OT services.
• Ensure that all billing registers are completed within established departmental guidelines.
• Attend all staff meetings and in-service sessions as requested.

Other Duties

• Comply with ECF’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program.  Ensure safe use and operation of tools and/or equipment.
• Comply with ECF policies and procedures, including mandated reporting requirements.
• Observe regular, on-site work hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Licenses/Certifications:   Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy .  California License in Occupational Therapy .  Current registration with American Occupational Therapist Association .
Experience: One year as an Occupational Therapist working with school-age children.

• Use sound judgment and conduct self in a professional manner at all times.
• Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, in an effective and diplomatic manner with a wide range of clientele, service providers, families and other agencies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive issues and materials.
• Ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.
• Good organizational skills, high level of initiative and tactfulness are essential.
• Computer skills required for report writing.
• May require bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish).

REQUIREMENTS

• Driving is an essential function of this position.  Proof of valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, evidence of state-mandated car insurance, and insurable driving record are required.  While driving for work, should a need arise, the employee’s insurance is deemed primary and ECF’s coverage is secondary. 

  Driving Disclaimer - Employees driving for company business must maintain a clean record and operate vehicles safely and responsibly. Company vehicles will be monitored and activity recorded. Violations of the driving policy may result in disciplinary action, including suspension of driving privileges, reassignment, or termination.

• Provide evidence of a negative TB test initially and every three years thereafter.
• Pass a pre-employment physical.
• Obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR certification.

Work Environment

This is a school environment for students (K–12 th grade) and  program for infants and toddlers (age’s birth to 36 months) who have varying degrees of learning, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disabilities.  Work will be performed in a classroom, outdoors, and other locations for field trips and special events.  Environment may include frequent interruptions, loud noise, odors, varying indoor temperature, and drafts. Outdoor temperature and weather will vary. Employee may encounter students who are in crisis, exhibiting emotional/psychological distress or behaving in an aggressive manner.  Employee may not be with a student alone in a room with the door closed; students must never be left unattended.
 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites.

• Ability to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Require the use of hands to produce records and/or documentation in manual or electronic format.
• Regular use of vision to read printed materials, computer screen, and supervise children.
• Regularly required to bend, squat, reach, kneel, stand, walk, sit, and push/pull and lift equipment and children up to 30 lbs.
• Regularly required to travel to various sites within Los Angeles County.
• Ability to implement First Aid and CPR.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Exceptional Children’s Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.  We are on a mission to support independence, belonging and community. We strive to build a culture that is safe, respectful, fair, and supportive of all employees. We are proud to employ people of all backgrounds who possess the talent, energy, and focus to accelerate our vision forward.

Employment with Exceptional Children’s Foundation, aka ECF is at-will employment which means that ECF or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice. ECF holds the right to modify the terms of employment, including but not limited to, job descriptions, duties, schedules, compensation, work locations, procedures, guidelines, practices or employee benefit programs with or without advance notice. I acknowledge and understand that the at-will nature of my employment relationship with ECF can only be changed by an express written agreement signed by the President/CEO of ECF and me .