Occupational Therapist - Part Time

Part TimeOccupational Therapist

The primary task of the Occupational Therapist (OT) is to assess barriers to daily functioning and provide group/individual therapeutic programming to support the Italian Home for Childrens Intensive Treatment Residence program, a group home for youth involved with the Department of Children and Families between ages 4-14. The ITR OT will contribute to creating a therapeutic milieu by providing adaptations and building skills needed to participate in after school/evening routine, including but not limited to educational participation, development of play/leisure skills, supporting social participation, ADL completion, and mealtime engagement. The OT will be part of a multidisciplinary team including another OT, medication provider, mental health clinicians, and direct care staff.

This is a part-time (20 hours per week) position, afternoons/evenings only to support the hours that the children are present in the program. This position reports to and will receive ongoing mentorship from the Clinical Coordinator of Occupational Therapy. The Part Time ITR OT will join a growing OT program in an emerging area of practice, able to contribute to program development to serve this unique population. This unique opportunity offers the ability to contribute to supporting child development and mental health needs of a population living in an alternative home environment impacted by complex trauma.
Due to the dynamic needs of our population, the intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of all clinical positions given this title. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Essential Functions

• Assess the individual needs of the program population and provide occupational therapy interventions.
• Document intakes, treatment plans, session summaries, and letters to providers.
• Complete detailed OT Plan of Care reflecting resident’s strengths, realistic and achievable goals, and areas of functional challenges; revisit plan of care quarterly and as needed
• Intervention to promote, remediate or accommodate for functional limitations across developmental domains (gross and fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and school readiness skills.
• Knowledge of sensory integration theory and functional application of these principles across home and community-based settings
• Working knowledge of neuro and neuro-rehabilitation principles
• Document and record the client’s condition and educate clients and direct care staff in appropriate therapy methods
• Multi-disciplinary collaborative consultation and training involving clinical and milieu staff, caregiving systems and outside agencies as needed and appropriate
• Attendance at rounds/meetings as directed
• Provide education about occupational therapy interventions to staff including during new hire orientation
• Maintain the OT suspension gym and Snoezelen multisensory rooms including training others, maintenance of supplies, and cleaning
• Prepare for and regularly attend individual supervision to discuss assignments, quality of service, professional development, and work life balance

Essential Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program required
• License to practice Occupational Therapy in the state of Massachusetts, which is active and in good standing
• Experience in a pediatric and/or mental health setting; new grads with a strong, pediatric-based Level II Fieldwork experience will be considered.
• Experience and passion for trauma informed care and a population of youth with mental health concerns is preferred
• Current CPR certification preferred but otherwise offered during orientation
• Excellent, concise communication skills (verbal, written, presentation); organizational skills and motivational abilities to balance productivity needs and required paperwork
• Must be receptive and responsive to supervision and professional development
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Strong commitment to supporting, nurturing, teaching, and empowering children
• Evidence of sensitivity and respect for client’s culture and socioeconomic characteristics
• Receive training in and be willing to implement crisis management techniques, including de-escalation and therapeutic physical management
• Ability to bend, reach, move and lift 75 pounds
• Visual and hearing acuity to perform job related functions