Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Job Title

Perform occupational therapy programs under the general supervision of an occupational therapist.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in administering programs involving functional skills including activities of daily, pre-vocational, vocational homemaking skills.
• Instruct, motivate and assist patients/residents in learning and improving functional skills.
• Observe patients/residents during treatments and compile data on responses to treatments and progress.
• Report orally or in writing to supervising occupational therapist.
• Assist in evaluation of patient/resident daily living skills and capacities to determine the extent of abilities and limitations.
• Design and adapt equipment and working/living environment.
• Assist in instructing patient/resident and family in home programs as well as care and use of adaptive equipment.
• Document patient/resident progress toward established goals.
• Establish and maintain good public relations with patients/residents families and other center guest.
• Show empathy toward patients/residents as needed.
• Adhere to requirements of resident/patient Bill of Rights.
• Follow established infection control precautions; adhere to Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions, following policy and center specific infection control policies and procedures.
• Observe safety needs of patients/residents.
• Identify safety and security hazards and report to appropriate personnel after ensuring patient/resident is out of immediate danger.
• Assist in maintaining supplies and equipment.
• Maintain billing records.
• Follow policies and procedures related to body mechanics, transfer, body positioning and mobility as outlined in the Nursing Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Attend seminars and other educational programs related to occupational therapy as required to maintain active licensure status.
• Participate in scheduled in-service programs and staff meetings.
• Maintain confidentiality of necessary information.
• Utilize supplies and equipment properly and without waste.
• Think and act calmly and logically to meet unusual occurrences of the job without being thrown off stride.
• Perform any miscellaneous work assignments as may be required.

Job requirements:

• Credentialed graduate of an accredited two-year Occupational Therapist Assistant program and certified according to national requirements.
• Licensed in the state where practicing if required.
• Prior experience preferred.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Must be capable of executing all terms and conditions set forth in the Employee Handbook, including but not limited to: Work in a safety conscious manner to ensure that others in the workplace are not at risk. Comply with local, state and federal regulations in addition to company policies and procedures. Interact in a tactful, diplomatic and humanistic manner with residents, families, visitors and co-workers to provide a safe, efficient and therapeutically effective caring environment to ensure the self-respect, personal dignity, rights and physical safety of each resident and center guest. Maintain a dependable attendance record and adhere to standards of cleanliness, grooming, hygiene and dress code.