COTA (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant)

Comstock Park Occupational Therapy Assistant

Comstock Park is seeking candidates who display a strong desire and ability to make an impact on students and the greater community both within and outside of the classroom.

Summary

This position is a part-time Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant to work under the guidance of the school district's Occupational Therapist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides services, in person, under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist.
• Follows treatment plan as defined in the IEP or 504 plan developed in collaboration with occupational therapist
• Monitors activities, in person, to make sure they are performed correctly and provides encouragement, bringing treatment that is not having the intended effect to the attention of the therapist.
• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by establishing, following, and enforcing standards and procedures and complying with legal regulations.
• Maintains occupational therapy records by recording student's progress for use by the occupational therapist.
• Completion of paperwork as directed by the occupational therapist
• Enhances occupational therapy practice reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests and exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Assists students with IEPs or 504 plans with both academic and non-academic needs (i.e. medical needs, life skills, personal hygiene such as toileting, supported instruction, and implementation of IEP/504 goals)
• Follows through with prescribed behavioral management plans and programs
• Reinforces teacher taught skills
• Maintains positive environments
• Maintains student data
• Bills Medicaid for prescribed services under the supervision of a professional staff member
• Manages and instructs individual and/or small groups of students
• Support students in general education environment and across school settings (e.g. transitions, lunch, recess)
• Supports during crisis situations, utilizing interventions outlined by Ukeru and/or CPI, after completing the necessary training
• Manages therapy sessions independently
• Other duties as assigned; staff member may be reassigned within the building or district as needs change.

Qualification Requirements

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily by the completion of the trial period. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma and Associate's degree or must successfully pass a state-approved basic skills test or must have sixty (60) hours of credit from a four-year college or university. Previous work in childcare or related experiences with children.
• Current Michigan licensure as Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Current CPR certification

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work with students with special needs.
• Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
• May be required to work with more than one adult during the school day.
• Ability to handle and operate standard school equipment and provide clerical services as needed.
• Ability to implement teacher philosophy accurately and consistently.
• Ability to be flexible and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrates initiative and creativity is self-directed.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to bend at the neck and use wrists more than the average person. May involve lifting 50 pounds or positioning 90 pounds. Specific vision and hearing abilities required by this job (e.g. lose vision and peripheral vision). Occasionally the employee will assist in the physical management of students. May be required to go outdoors in all seasons and weather to monitor students and to meet transportation vehicles. May be required to monitor students on field trips outside of school. Assists students with eating, hygiene, and toileting. May be exposed to infections, as well as bodily fluids such as vomit, saliva, or blood.