at Maize USD 266 in Maize, Kansas, United States
Job Description
A Day In The Life
The Occupational Therapist supports the instructional program with specific responsibilities for assessing students' functional physical development levels; planning and implementing appropriate therapeutic interventions to meet individual student objectives; identifying architectural barriers; and providing recommendations for accessibility, program development, and student placement. Students are supported in being able to participate in their occupations within the school environment, including academic and non-academic areas across environments.
Essential Functions
- Assesses fine and gross motor skills of student, along with functional abilities (e.g. perceptual-motor, hand functions, motor coordination, sensory development, muscle strength, etc.) for the purpose of determining eligibility, and as deemed necessary, developing recommendations for interventions, appropriate assistive devices, and educational placement.
- Collaborates with a variety of groups and individuals (e.g. parents, teachers, physicians, administration, maintenance personnel, team members, other professionals, etc.) to communicate information, interpret reports, resolve issues, and provide services in compliance with established guidelines.
- Consults with a variety of people (e.g. teachers, parents, other personnel, outside professionals, etc.) to provide requested information, develop plans for services, make recommendations, and coordinate occupational therapy services with those of other disciplines.
- Develops educational plans, services, and educational materials for the purpose of remediating students' motor skill deficits and ensuring compliance.
- Educates staff on how a student's needs might impact their ability to physically and mentally participate within the school environment for the purpose of implementing therapeutic interventions carried out by the staff.
- Identifies environmental barriers for the purpose of removing them or adapting the environment to meet the physical or sensory needs of students.
- Interprets medical reports to provide information and ensure services and programming are appropriate.
- Maintains documents, files, and records (e.g. progress reports, activity logs, billing information, treatment plans, etc.); ensuring the availability of information as required for reference and compliance.
- Participates in a variety of meetings (e.g. workshops, in-services, staff meetings, etc.) for the purpose of conveying and gathering information.
- Performs site visits at multiple work sites to provide services and consultations as required.
- Prepares a wide variety of written materials (e.g. activity logs, correspondence, memos, therapeutic intervention plans, Medicaid billings, reports, mileage logs, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and conveying information.
- Provides direct occupational therapy service to develop students daily living skills in compliance with established goals and objectives.
- Researches resources and methods (e.g. intervention techniques, assessment tools and methods, community resources, etc.) to determine the appropriate approach for addressing students' functional goals.
- Responds to inquiries (e.g. parents, teachers, staff, students, etc.) to provide information and referral as appropriate.
- Schedules student occupational therapy intervention sessions and provides services in an efficient and timely manner.
- Transports supplies and equipment to a variety of sites to ensure the availability of items as needed.
- Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.
Successful Candidates
- Are licensed through Kansas Board of Healing Arts
- Hold a Bachelor's degree
- Pass TB test, background check and drug screen
- Have knowledge of and ability to apply assessment instruments
- Organize work, set priorities and meet deadlines
- Have the ability to read technical information, compose a variety of documents, and/or facilitate group discussions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions
- Know of appropriate codes, policies, regulations and laws
- Know of age appropriate activities; concepts of grammar and punctuation; health standards and hazards; safety practices and procedures; stages of child development; abnormal development and medical diagnoses related to special education funding categories; current OT therapeutic interventions
- Operate equipment used in occupational therapy strategies
- Have the ability to gather, collate, and/or classify data and to translate therapy data into meaningful educational activities
- Communicate with tact and patience
- Work with diverse groups and individuals
- Solve problems and analyze issues and create action plans
- Establish and maintain constructive relationships
- Adapt to changing work priorities and to remain flexible and creative
- Work under limited supervision
