Occupational Therapist

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you'll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students' lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You'll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key-you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What's Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A Career in IPS Offers...

Purpose and Impact:

• Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you're maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.
• Belonging and Community: IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You'll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Training and Development Opportunities: IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.
• Skill Enhancement: Whether you're new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.

Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits:

• Fair Compensation: IPS ensures competitive wages and regularly reviews pay structures to maintain equity.
• Extensive Benefits Package: Employees enjoy comprehensive health coverage, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Additional financial benefits include flexible spending accounts and eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

• Generous Leave Policies: IPS offers vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid holidays. Twelve-month employees benefit from floating holidays, and unused personal leave rolls into the sick leave balance.
• Wellness Programs: IPS prioritizes staff well-being with access to wellness initiatives, including health screenings and an employee assistance program for confidential support and counseling.

What We Expect:

• Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district's success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.
• Collaboration and Communication: IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.
• Flexibility and Problem-Solving: As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it's a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What's Possible - in your career and in your school. If you're ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

We are looking for an occupational therapist who will positively impact student success by supporting academic achievement and social participation through promotion of occupations within all school routines, including recess, classroom, cafeteria time, prevocational/vocational participation and more. The OT assists children in fulfilling their role as students and offers services along a continuum of prevention, promotion, and interventions. As a member of the Unified Student Supports Team, you will receive excellent benefits, opportunities to grow within your role and the organization, and collaborative and supportive colleagues who put students first.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Adhere to the regulatory and practice standards of Occupational Therapy.
• Review student conditions and medical records.
• Assess the motor, visual-motor and sensory-motor functioning of students referred for special education evaluation. Help determine the need for occupational therapy services.
• Conduct activity and environmental analysis to make recommendations to improve the fit for greater access, progress, and participation.
• Assist school staff in reducing barriers that limit student participation within the school environment.
• Assist with providing assistive technology to support student success if/when applicable.
• Help identify long-term goals for appropriate post-school outcomes and assist school staff for successfully transitioning into appropriate post-high school employment, independent living, and/or further education.
• Help plan relevant instructional activities for ongoing implementation in the classroom.
• Provide educationally relevant occupational therapy services to the students in an accurate and timely manner addressing sensorimotor deficits, fine motor deficits, etc. that affect a student's ability to access his/her educational environment as designated in the Individual Educational Plan.
• Documents and maintains an accurate record of therapy sessions, consultation, and other pertinent activities in daily notes and/or Medicaid Billing.
• Provide written documentation related to occupational therapy during Annual Case Reviews and/or other meetings and provide written documentation for progress as determined by the student's Individual Education Plan.
• Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate application of precautions and contraindications to occupational therapy treatment.
• Communicate with school staff, family and other professionals who are part of the child's educational team to contribute to a collaborative IEP including but not limited to student self-advocacy, student engagement in with school activities, curricular modifications to support diverse learning abilities, increase student success and promote safety within the school environment, etc. student progress, needed adaptations, etc.
• Maintain and educate others on the use of adaptive equipment and integrated activities and maintains an inventory of District OT assistive equipment
• Consult with school staff to obtain additional student information, suggest revisions in implementation and integrate occupational therapy with other aspects of the student's educational environment.
• Provides adaptations related to the student's ability to access and participate in his/her educational environment as it relates to fine motor skills, access, sensory, etc.
• Maintains confidentiality of all student records, school and other related information as noted by HIPPA and FERPA.
• Other duties as assigned

"Day in the Life" Overview

On a regular day, as the Occupational Therapist, you might:

• Provide direct services one-on-one with a student, provide direct services to a group, co-treat with another discipline
• Provide consultative services to staff members to ensure integrated activities are being completed as noted in the IEP to meet individual needs.
• Support students in reaching their individualized education plan goals
• Complete evaluations to assist team members in determining needed supports and services
• Maintain daily documentation on provided services.
• Attend meetings with the IEP team to assist with effective planning.
• Work collaboratively with other staff

WHAT YOU'll BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS:

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Knowledge and appropriate application of precautions and contraindications to occupational therapy treatment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong strategic analytical and writing capabilities, and interpersonal savvy
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they rise, results/action-orientation; project management skills
• Racial equity mindset and other critical indicators related to DEI
• Organizational agility; developed negotiation skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust
• Ability to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment. Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet IPS Instructional needs
• Track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of actors. Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively.
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment
• Ability to execute meetings, calls, and emails with professionalism, courtesy, and accuracy. Ability to effectively allocate and prioritize time to several tasks to ensure completion of all

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an occupational therapy program accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the AMA and the AOTA.
• Certified Occupational Therapist (OT) by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or Certified Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) by the National Board in Certified Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
• Valid Indiana Occupational Therapy License

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Not eligible

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function.