Occupational Therapist [XT06]

Occupational Therapist

Full-Time: 185 Day Contract Monday - Friday Salary: $61,575 minimum - $94,083 maximum base + Benefits

Laramie County School District #1

The job of Occupational Therapist is done for the purpose of leading the process of development, implementation, and coordination of the occupational therapy program; assessing students' occupational performance in the areas of personal care, student role, interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication; planning and implementing appropriate intervention to support students progress toward IEP objectives; and promoting student access to all aspects of their education through collaboration/consultation, direct intervention, program development and modifications and training.

This job reports to Director of Special Services or designee

Essential Functions

• Administers occupational therapy procedures and modalities for the purpose of achieving program objectives.
• Assesses students' fine and gross motor skills and functional abilities (e.g. perceptual-motor, hand functions, motor coordination, sensory development, muscle strength, etc.) for the purpose of determining program eligibility and developing recommendations for treatment, appropriate assistive devices and/or school placement.
• Collaborates /consults with a variety of groups and/or individuals (e.g. parents, teachers, students, physicians, administration, maintenance personnel, team members, other professionals, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information, determining educational program planning, resolving issues and providing occupational therapy services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Conducts an OT assessment that evaluates a student within the educational (natural environment) setting for the purpose of assessing the students performance in activities that are curriculum oriented and applicable to functioning in the classroom and in daily life routines necessary at school.
• Consults with school based teams (e.g. gathering information, providing training, etc.) for the purpose of achieving student outcomes.
• Develops and carries out intervention plan for students in accordance with IDEA, state regulations and district policies for the purpose of providing student success and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Directs the work of assigned occupational therapy support personnel for the purpose of providing guidance and ensuring that program objectives are achieved.
• Educates students, educational personnel, and family for the purpose of providing information on medical/behavioral attributes, use of assistive devices and/or implementing plans for remediation of functional limitations.
• Evaluates students functional ability and formulates the students occupational profile (e.g. functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observations, checklists, histories, interviews, etc.) for the purpose of developing occupationally based intervention plans based on student need and evaluation results.
• Identifies, adapts and modifies the environment and tasks including assistive technology and the training of instructional staff for the purpose of removing barriers for students with physical limitations, meeting individual needs and/or helping students function as independently as possible.
• Interprets medical reports for the purpose of providing information and/or ensuring that treatment/intervention plans are appropriate.
• Maintains equipment for a variety of sites for the purpose of ensuring the availability of items as needed.
• Maintains files and/or records both manual and electronic (e.g. clinical and administrative records, progress reports, activity logs, treatment plans, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of information as required for reference and/or compliance with professional standards, State/Federal guidelines and District policy.
• Monitors specific program implementation as directed by occupational therapist for the purpose of ensuring program objectives are being followed.
• Participates in meetings, workshops, continuing education activities and seminars (e.g. trainings, IEPs, team meetings, departmental meetings, etc.) for the purpose of offering recommendations, conveying and/or gathering information and ensuring practice consistent with best practice.
• Performs site visits at multiple work sites including home visits for the purpose of providing direct therapy interventions and assistance as required.
• Prepares a wide variety of written materials (e.g. activity logs, correspondence, memos, intervention plans, IEPs, reports, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, synthesizing evaluation results into a comprehensive report, providing written reference, adhering to Federal and State legislation, regulations and policies and/or conveying information.
• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic interventions within the students educational environment for the purpose of facilitating student participation and occupational performance within the school environment and developing students daily living skills in compliance with established goals and objectives.
• Researches resources and methods (e.g. intervention and treatment techniques, professional literature, assessment tools and methods, evidence based research, continuing education content, community resources, etc.) for the purpose of determining the appropriate approach for addressing students' functional goals.
• Responds to inquiries and provides continuing education and in-services (e.g. parents, teachers, staff, students, etc.) for the purpose of providing information and/or referral as appropriate.

Other Functions

Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Skills are required to perform multiple, highly complex, technical tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: applying assessment instruments; effective oral and written communication; operating equipment used in occupational therapy strategies; operating standard office equipment including pertinent computer software; and preparing and maintaining accurate records.

Knowledge is required to perform algebra and/or geometry; review and interpret highly technical information, write technical materials, and/or speak persuasively to implement desired actions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: understanding of human development throughout the life span and how it integrates with student's unique developmental status; knowledge and appreciation of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on student's ability to participate in occupations; knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles and evidence based practice to guide intervention decisions and knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools.

Ability is required to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize a variety of job-related equipment. Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data may require independent interpretation; and problem solving with equipment is significant. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: gather and assess outcomes program evaluation data and to use to modify services at the programmatic level; to maintain current reporting, documentation, and scheduling in accordance with professional standards, state and local guidelines; to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student; to interpret the evaluation data and write a comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers to student's participation and occupational performance; to participate collaboratively with multidisciplinary educational teams to develop Individualized Education Programs to meet student needs; to develop occupationally based intervention plans based on evaluation information; to provide evidence based occupational therapy intervention to improve student's performance skills and participation; to adapt and modify environments, equipment, and materials including assistive technology; to plan, coordinate, and conduct continuing education for educational personnel, parents, and students; and to use professional literature, evidence based research, and continuing education content to make practice decisions.

Responsibility

Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. There is a continual opportunity to impact the organization's services.

Working Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some climbing and balancing, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 40% sitting, 20% walking, and 40% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and in a generally hazard free environment.

Experience: Job related experience with increasing levels of responsibility is required.

Education: Masters degree in job-related area.

Equivalency