Occupational Therapist

SUMMARY:
Public school Occupational Therapists are specialists who work with both the general education and special education population with occupational therapy needs.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides specialized occupational therapy techniques through individual and/or group sessions designed to meet the educational, social-emotional, and vocational needs of the students.
• Screens, evaluates and monitors students with disabilities for the purpose of providing educational programs, therapeutic intervention, and transition and exit planning and enhancing their ability to perform activities of daily living or participate in desired occupations.
• Prepares, implementing, and evaluating an annual educational plan for each student based on individually assessed needs and in accordance with district procedures.
• Uses appropriate assessment instruments pertinent to provide a thorough assessment and diagnosis of occupational therapy areas of need.
• Supports projects and programs designed to serve students in the program.
• Serves as a resource to school staff members in the development of a balanced program for occupational therapy services.
• Assists and guides teachers in observing, describing and referring and identifying suspected occupational therapy areas of need.
• Provides screening to identify students in need of occupational therapy services at regular intervals and at specified levels.
• Assists in proper referrals to individuals to agencies and specialists in the community.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers and other school staff members to implement therapy by suggestions for the student's daily activities.
• Provides information, support and counseling to parents and families when appropriate.
• Supervises Occupational Therapy Assistants as needed.

 
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises COTA, and students.
 
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  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:
As required by the State of Delaware. 
 
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION:
Licensed in Delaware as an Occupational Therapist.
 
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
 
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical interference and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
 
 
 
 
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
 
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program.  Ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communications.
 
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 walk and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand and sit.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee will continuously hear conversation in a quiet and/or noisy environment.  The employee will continuously need ability to tell where a sound is coming from and tell the difference among bells, buzzers, beeps, horns, etc.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.  The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.
 
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.