Job Title:      Occupational Therapist

Location:      Division Wide

Reports To:  Director of Pupil Personnel

Salary:          Based on Experience

Position Purpose: Under the general supervision of the Director of Pupil Services,  the Occupational Therapist will lead the process of the development, implementation, and coordination of the school district's occupational therapy program for students with disabilities or physical/mental impairments by developing individualized programming based on occupational performance deficits activities of daily living, including personal care, interaction skills, community integration, work, and communication.

Essential Functions

• Develops, implements, and coordinates the school district's occupational therapy program within the school district, including philosophy, vision, procedures, and goals.

• Screens evaluate and monitor students with disabilities or physical and mental impairments to provide educational programs, therapeutic intervention, and transition and exit planning and enhance their ability to perform activities of daily living or participate in desired occupations.

• Collaborates with staff to ensure team understanding of student occupational performance strengths, needs, and outcomes.

• Evaluate the student's ability and formulate the student's occupational profile, providing written reports that reflect strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment and guide evidence-based intervention.

• Participates in the development of Individualized Education Programs.

• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and occupational performance within the school environment.

• Assesses the need for assistive technology and equipment and recommends its use at school to help students function independently.

• Documents occupational therapy services and maintains records per school district policies and state and federal laws and regulations.

• Supervises Occupational Therapy Assistants as needed.

• Plans, coordinates, and conducts continuing education for school staff, parents, and students.

• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops, or professional meetings or conducting research and maintaining professional relationships.

Additional Duties

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Director of Pupil Services and other administrators designated by the Superintendent.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all-inclusive for every task or responsibility.

Equipment

• Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printers, copy and fax machines, and telephone.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, practice models, principles, and evidence-based practice to guide intervention decisions.

• Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan and integrates with a student's unique developmental status.

• Knowledge of the influence of disabilities and socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on a student's ability to participate in occupations.

• Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504, and other federal and state laws and regulations regarding education, students, and school physical therapy practice.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Skill in selecting and providing a wide range of intervention strategies and monitoring their effectiveness.

• Practical computer skills (e.g., effectively using Microsoft Office suite).

• Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student.

• Ability to organize and coordinate work.

• Ability to engage in self-evaluation about performance and professional growth.

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted during work.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in standard office and school building environments.

Qualifications Profile

Certification/License:

• State Certification to practice as evidenced by current state licensure as an Occupational Therapist.

• Initial certification by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy. 

• Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation.

Education:

• Bachelors from an accredited college or university in a related field.

• Graduation from an accredited program of occupational therapy recognized by NBCOT. 

Experience:

• Successful prior experience working as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in educational or other pediatric practice settings. 

Terms of Employment 

• Exempt

• Full Time 

• 12 Months

To apply electronically, please visit https://www.applitrack.com/southampton/onlineapp/