OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Description

A First Steps Occupational Therapist provides evaluations/therapy in a variety of settings, assessing the following areas of development: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Oral Motor, Perceptual Motor, and Sensory Integration functioning. The Occupational Therapist will provide treatment plans and outcomes reflected in each client's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), using therapeutic modalities and procedures to maintain/increase skills. The Occupational Therapist also communicates with staff and families regarding results of the evaluation, treatment and progress, provides parent training, and makes suggestions for home programming.

Requirements

Essential Functions

Evaluation

• Assist in evaluating children with a team of other therapists or on an individual basis.
• Communicate the results of the assessment/screening as directed.
• Determine each child’s assistive technology needs. This includes specially adapted chairs and wheelchair inserts for proper positioning, feeding devices, splints, adaptive toys and switches, etc.

Therapy

• Provide individual therapy when appropriate to maintain and improve gross and fine motor development; muscle strength and ranges of motion; sensory processing skills; and oral motor and self-help skills (feeding, dressing, and pre-speech skills).
• Provide and/or obtaining the necessary equipment for proper positioning and play.

Communication

• Deal effectively with other staff, agencies, and community programs, as well as children and their parents/guardians.
• Records and Reports:
• The therapist shall keep daily progress notes, make quarterly reports on, and maintain records of evaluations, home visits, etc.
• The therapist completes an exit skills summary for all children who are transitioning to the school system when turning three.
• Participate in case conferences, staff meetings, parent group meetings when requested.
• Participate with other team members in writing annual IFSPs.
• Attend appropriate workshops and conferences to increase professional effectiveness and to meet the 15-hour minimum requirement by First Steps.
• Serve as a resource person for information on gross/fine motor, perceptual-motor, sensory motor, sensory processing skills, and oral motor development, correct positioning for feeding and speech, etc.
• Provide evaluations in a variety of settings to determine program needs of infants and toddlers.
• Participate with other First Steps team members in developing appropriate outcomes for Individual Family Service Plans.
• Provide reports and written programs to families and other professionals following First Steps guidelines.

General Responsibilities

• Responsible for the health and safety of children served.
• Expected to serve as role model for persons served.
• Expected to serve as an advocate and to protect the rights of children served.
• Expected to participate in training as required by their supervisor or for all LOGAN staff.
• Expected to perform other duties as assigned by their supervisor.
• Plan instructional activities for clients, as well as assist families in accessing activities in the community.
• Furnish all required monthly statistics on a timely basis.
• Respect the confidentiality of the children and families and will respect their cultural diversity, in accordance with LOGAN policies.
• May be asked to serve on a LOGAN committee that addresses the internal operations of the agency.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A registered Occupational Therapist in the State of Indiana.

Experience

• One year of experience working with the pediatric population is preferred but not necessary.
• College practicum work in developing appropriate activities and strategies for infants and toddlers is appropriate if there is no experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communicate with other appropriate staff, supervisor, and agency personnel.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with children and families within this format.
• Provide developmental outcomes for each child and demonstrate activities and strategies to their families and or caregivers.
• Able to be creative in exploring new and innovative ideas.
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgment
• Currently registered/licensed with the Health Professions Bureau of Indiana.
• Have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive to and from each visit, therapy session, or Individual Family Service Plan site.
• Have a reliable form of transportation.
• Enrolled in the state of Indiana as First Steps provider. Ability to lift a child three years of age and under, weighing up to 50 pounds, with adaptive equipment.

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