Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, EC Department

Date Posted  
March 10, 2025

Position

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, EC Department

Temporary, part-time, 7.5 hours per day / 3 days per week / no benefits

Position Available
April 10, 2025 – May 28, 2025

Reports To
Chief of Exceptional Children’s Services

Salary

Grade MH10 ($3,883.10 - $6,145.00) State Salary Schedule, based on a 40-hour work week

Nature of Work

Employee will assist with the development and implementation of intervention services under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. The occupational therapy assistant works with students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform daily life activities and participate in necessary and desired occupations, within the school environment. The assistant is expected to implement individually designed interventions based on occupational performance deficits in the areas of personal care, student role/interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication. The interventions are planned with the supervising occupational therapist. The occupational therapy assistant is expected to review outcomes and modify intervention programs in coordination with the supervising occupational therapist. This employee is also responsible for documenting progress and communicating with the IEP team. The supervising occupational therapist defines the level of supervision required in the work environment based on recommendations by The North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. 

Qualifications/Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited occupational therapy program.
• Current license as an occupational therapy assistant issued by the State of North Carolina.
• Two years’ experience as an occupational therapy assistant is preferred.
• Experience preferably in the school system and/or pediatrics.

Essential Job Functions

• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student occupational performance 
• strengths and needs.
• Assist team to develop, disseminate, and evaluate programs and procedures for occupational therapy 
• Provide occupational therapy to individuals eligible for special education and related services 

Knowledge and Abilities

• Theories, models of practice, principles and methods of occupational therapy, and evidence-based practice (thorough knowledge)
• Federal, state, and local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and affect school based occupational therapy services and medical records (general knowledge)
• Guidelines for providing Occupational Therapy in North Carolina Public Schools
• Neurology, anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, and human development throughout the lifespan, integrated with student’s unique developmental status 
• Activity analysis
• Articulate the role of the occupational therapy assistant and the occupational therapist in the evaluation, intervention planning, and intervention process
• Contraindications of treatments for specific disabilities or when other conditions exists
• Methods, materials and equipment used to alter existing or fabricate specialized equipment
• Safety precautions including hazards associated with activities

Duties for Service Delivery

• Develop, disseminate, and evaluate programs and procedures for occupational therapy.
• Review therapy goals and plans for each individual, make recommendations and adjust as appropriate.
• Maintain records and progress monitoring data. 
• Prepare reports concerning individual students review medical and therapy reports to assure compliance with established laws, regulations and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with families of individuals with disabilities and IEP teams.
• Implement occupational therapy services to students; monitoring of students’ progress and data collection. 
• Collaboration with parents, IEP Team, and other school personnel.
• Attend IEP Meetings as requested; prepare for meetings in advance; bring progress monitoring data to IEP meetings to assist IEP Team with decision-making.
• Communicate with agencies, schools, and other organizations to coordinate services.

•  

  Program Administration and Management Duties

• Use the following to guide decisions:
• • AOTA Code of Ethics
  • Rules of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy
• Completes Medicaid billing in a timely manner; maintains required data and written documentation in order to fulfill Medicaid requirements.
• Attend meetings as scheduled by the district’s Chief of Exceptional Children’s Program, related services team, etc.
• Coordinate occupational therapy referral and record systems (caseload spreadsheet etc)
• Operate a variety of therapeutic equipment; train others in the use of equipment; maintain equipment in proper working condition.
• Research, evaluate, and interpret data and other information regarding occupational therapy services and submit periodic reports as requested.
• Other duties as assigned

Educational Duties

• Maintain Remain current concerning technological advances and other matters concerning occupational therapy.
• Attend and participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, for  professional development and to maintain continuing competency for licensure requirements of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy.
• Provide in-service training to staff as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform very heavy work exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to lift objects.

Application Deadline

Open until filled

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete an on-line application via Applicant Tracking.  Please visit the Lincoln County Schools website (www.lincoln.k12.nc.us), select EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, and APPLICANT TRACKING to begin the process. Questions should be addressed to the contact person below.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EMPLOYER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON BASIS OF AGE,
HANDICAP, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, RELIGION, OR SEX