What are the responsibilities and job description for the Occupational Therapist position at Springfield Elementary School?
Occupational Therapist
Job Goal:
- To develop and implement occupational therapy program in order to provide an appropriate education for designated student(s).
- To enhance the learning potential for students with disabilities and facilitate the student’s adaptation to the educational environment.
- To ensure that recommendations, interventions, and communication embody the principle that all students can succeed and learn, using their knowledge of motor development in the continuum of learning.
Reports to: Senior Executive Director of Special Services
Supervises: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), assigned students
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy curriculum, approved by the designated credentialing agency in South Carolina.
- Current license as an occupational therapist in South Carolina.
- Experience in pediatric setting preferred.
- Must be able to perform essential duties assigned satisfactorily.
Essential Performance Responsibilities:
- To provide and/or reinforce occupational therapy instruction to individuals or small groups of specified students, facilitate communication of goals within the education environment, prepare or adapt materials and perform a variety of related clerical duties.
- To provide referral strategies in compliance with district, state, and federal guidelines.
- To screen, evaluate, and reevaluate specified students using appropriate tests, clinical observation and supplementary information from other agencies and records.
- To develop, implement, and monitor individual treatment goals and objectives.
- To comply with guidelines related to Individual Education Plans.
- To instruct and monitor educational personnel, community agencies, and parents in the management of the therapy program.
- To effectively communicate results, evaluations, and reports of therapy services to the school staff, parents, students and, when appropriate and approved, to other professionals and agencies concerned with the student.
- To make scheduling decisions for service delivery based on student and school needs.
- To maintain clinical and administrative records in accordance with State guidelines and school directives.
- To supervise COTA, as appropriate, for carrying out duties within the department and in compliance with Medicaid and other relevant guidelines.
- To supervise daily schedule of service delivery provided by COTA to ensure efficient on-task schedule.
- To participate in the selection, design and/or construction of necessary adaptive equipment.
- To inventory and maintain records of equipment, materials, and supplies.
- To set-up, maintain, and clean/sanitize treatment equipment.
- To monitor frequency/duration of treatment so it coincides with IEP.
- To communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- To operate computers, audio-visual and other specified or instructional equipment and devices when require for specified student.
- To attend appropriate in-service training programs, staff meetings, and individual student conferences as requested by supervisor and in compliance with established district guidelines.
- To keep all student and school related information confidential in accordance with federal and state guidelines and Board policy.
- To establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
- To adhere to established federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- To adhere to universal precaution procedures.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Require vision (which may be corrected) to read small print.
- Require the mobility to stand, stoop, reach, and bend. Require mobility of arms to reach and dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate small objects.
- Perform lifting, pushing and/or pulling in order to implement Individual Education Plans and to provide appropriate therapy for assigned students.
- Is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, multiple or single classroom environments.
Marginal duties:
- To perform other related duties as assigned.
- To perform related duties as directed by the administration when assigned student(s) does not require services.
Terms of Employment:
- Minimum 190 days each year and as determined appropriate based on Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Extended School Year (ESY) services for designated student(s).
- Salary determined by placement on FMSD OT/PT/SLP Salary Schedule.
Evaluation:
- Performance on this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the board’s policy on evaluation of professional personnel.