Occupational Therapist

Urban Montessori Charter School's mission is to develop self-directed and engaged learners who are academically, socially and emotionally prepared to succeed in any high school. Nurturing the innovators of tomorrow to creatively meet the challenges of today's world with confidence, compassion and grace, Urban Montessori cultivates individual curiosities and strengths, while holding children to a high standard of excellence. At Urban Montessori, children deepen their understanding of what it means to live responsibly in a diverse urban community.

Urban Montessori Charter School is a public charter school serving TK through 7th grade. The school is located in Oakland and is open to all children residing in the state of California. We serve a socio-economically, racially and culturally diverse community of children because we believe that all children learn about different backgrounds and perspectives by living and working with people from those backgrounds and perspectives.

Position: Occupational Therapist

Reports to: Director of Student Services

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

- Determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluations and select/administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student

- Develop occupationally based intervention plans based on evaluation information

- Use occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence based practice to guide intervention decisions

- Use professional literature, evidence based research, continuing education content to make practice decisions

- Adapt and modify school-wide environments, equipment, and materials including assistive technology and provide training for instructional staff to meet individuals needs and to help students function as independently as possible

- Provide evidence based occupational therapy interventions to improve student's performance skills and participation

- Gather, assess, and use outcomes program evaluations data to modify services at programmatic level

- Review occupational therapy services for quality improvement and make changes as needed to ensure quality of services

- Monitors and re-assess the effects of selected occupational therapy interventions and the need to continue, modify, or discontinue intervention

- Apply knowledge of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural, and socioeconomic factors on student's ability to participate in occupations in serving students

- Utilize knowledge of human development throughout the life span to support student's unique developmental status

- Have familiarity with backwards design principles to deliver differentiated curriculum, rooted in the state content standards

- Use student-centered instructional methods as defined by the school's Montessori approach

- Perform all other duties as instructed by the Head of School and the Director of Special Education

- Participate collaboratively with multidisciplinary education teams to develop Individualized Education Programs to meet student needs

- Consult with the school-based team to achieve desired student outcomes

- Teach, monitor, and collaborate with educational personnel, community agencies, parents, and students to increase understanding of the student's occupational performance

Interpret evaluation data and write a comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers to student's participation and occupational performance

- Maintain current reporting, documentation, and scheduling in accordance with professional standards, state, and school guidelines, and reimbursement requirements

- Speak to adults and young people with respect

- Inform school administration of any classroom challenges (ex. discipline, health, developmental challenges, equipment needs, repairs and maintenance)

- Keep information about students confidential and only discuss it with others who work directly with the student

- Is professional and positive in all communication

- Build strong relationships with students and their families

- Provide students and their families with regular and timely information on classroom activities and student progress

- Engage parents/guardians in students' education

- Update online family communication on bimonthly basis

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

- Prioritize and schedule work tasks independently

- Apply knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools

- Manage inventory of therapeutic equipment, assessments, and projects needs for budget planning

- Document occupational therapy services to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate

- Use professional literature, evidence based research, and continuing education content to make practice decisions

- Participates in continuing education for professional development to ensure practice is consistent with best practice and to meet CA - Licensure requirements

- Provide continuing education and in-service for educational personnel, parents, and community based service providers

- Consult with teachers about services, support, and best practices to support students

- Engage and network with occupational therapy providers outside of UMCS in order to stay up-to-date on trends, best practices, and research regarding occupational therapy

- Educate students, educational personnel, and families to facilitate skills in areas of occupational therapy as well as health maintenance and safety

- Other Duties as assigned by supervisor

Education and/or Experience:

- Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

- Completion and graduation from an accredited occupational therapy professional program recognized by the California Department of Education including all fieldwork requirements

- Two years of experience as an occupational therapy, preferable in a school or other pediatric practice setting working with children from diverse backgrounds

- Current license from the California Board of occupational therapy

- CPR and first aide certification

- Pass state and federal backgrounds checks as well as TB test

Physical Requirements:

Lift 40 lbs.

Bend down

Sit on the floor

Participate in running, hopping, and other movement activities with students

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by her or his supervisor or the management of the organization.