School Occupational Therapist

General Description

Our ideal candidate

You are a culturally caring and empathetic professional with creative problem-solving skills who cares about the people you work with and the students receiving your services. You are a team player, skilled in your area of expertise, and you strive to do a good job at all times.

General description

Provides occupational therapy and services for special education students, ages birth to 22 years, that includes assessment, development of Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and plans, therapy, and direct intervention strategies and activities to assist students in acquiring functional and independent life skills within their occupational performance in the educational setting. Works with special education teams and provides consultation and training to school personnel and families.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Provides occupational therapy services to students by conducting assessments in context to their occupational performance within the educational setting using an ecological model to determine their strengths and level of need in areas that may include physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory components

Participates in pre-referral screenings, provides support and recommendations as part of the general education process, and facilitates transition planning

Participates in intervention planning and implementation of IEP and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) services

Develops well defined educationally relevant goals and objectives that are part of the student's individual educational program

Evaluates student progress on individual IEP and IFSP goals and revises goals as needed

Prepares occupational therapy assessments and progress and makes recommendations

As a part of the IFSP or IEP team the OT collaborates with professional staff to determine an individualized education plan for students eligible for special education services

Instructs and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in occupational therapy treatment approach, and instructional support on understanding, interpreting, and implementing intervention procedures

Consults with parents and staff on occupational therapy interventions for students

Provides training and continuing professional development to teachers and resource staff

Keeps up-to-date on current clinical, theoretical and educational research in the profession and develops up-to-date best practices for therapy services

Ensures the documentation of services is professional, efficient, and accountable, and in conformance with the policies of state and other agencies

Modifies and may design adaptive equipment that enhances students' ability to access learning and technology

Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position

Requirements

Education : Master's degree in occupational therapy.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university, if received prior to 2007, is acceptable.

Experience : One year's experience in a school setting preferred.

Knowledge of :

• Physical, sensory, intellectual, social, and emotional growth patterns of children including the developmental and educational needs of children with specific disabilities

Current theories and best practices in the application of occupational therapy techniques, including oral motor facilitation, daily living activities, sensory impairments, perceptual motor, fine motor development, and normal and abnormal child development

Advanced math

Ability to :

Facilitate formal discussion with classroom-sized groups and resolve conflicts

Develop reports and correspondence that may be sensitive and have legal implications

Interpret statistics

Work in an independent and organized manner as an itinerant service provider

Licenses and certificates

Valid certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

Valid California driver's license

Working conditions

Moderately active work is performed where some safety considerations exist due to physical effort. Travel to different locations and school sites within the county is required. Requires the ability to move to various class and meeting room settings, stoop, bend, kneel, and reach. Requires the use of hand-arm motion ability and coordination to assist others with physical movements. Requires utilization of hand-eye-arm coordination ability to use special diagnostic devices and a personal computer keyboard to access and record information. Requires ability to recognize words, numbers, and non-verbal actions of people. Requires the ability to project voice and carry out conversations with individuals and small groups in person and over the phone [HR1] .

[HR1] Move to working conditions.

Supplemental Information

Classified salary ranges have 25 steps (A-Y). Initial salary placement for new hires is between steps A and J, based on qualifications.

Click here for an Overview of Our Application & Selection Process .

RECRUITMENT INFORMATION :

Non-Discrimination Policy Statement

For purposes of this policy, employees include job applicants, interns, volunteers, and persons who contracted with SBCEO to provide services, as applicable.

No SBCEO employee shall be discriminated against or harassed by any coworker, supervisor, manager, or other person with whom the employee comes in contact in the course of employment, on the basis of the employee's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, religious creed, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

SBCEO prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of reproductive health decision making, defined as a person's decision to use or access a particular drug, device, product, or medical service for reproductive health.

SBCEO does not discriminate against employees on the basis of immigration status, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that SBCEO is required to do so in order to comply with federal immigration law.