Occupational Therapist

Job Description

• General Summary: Under general supervision leads the process in development, implementation, and coordination of the occupational therapy program. Screening, evaluation, educational program and transition planning, therapeutic intervention, and exit planning is provided for students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform daily activities or participate in necessary or desired occupations. Clinical reasoning and professional judgment are essential to ensuring the safety of students and protecting liability of the school system and therapist. Essential Functions include, but are not limited to the following:
• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and occupational performance within the school environment. Consults with the school-based team to achieve student outcomes. Adapts and modifies the environment including assistive technology and training instructional staff to meet individual needs and to help students function as independently as possible. Educates students, educational personnel, and family to facilitate skills in areas of occupation as well as health maintenance and safety. Monitor and reassess the effects of occupational therapy intervention and the need to continue, modify, or discontinue intervention. Participates in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrate findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individual education plans and intervention plans to achieve IEP goals. Documents occupational therapy service to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required: Knowledge of Human Development throughout the lifespan and how it affects the student’s unique developmental status. Knowledge and appreciation of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on student’s abilities to participate in occupations. Knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence based practice to guide intervention decisions. Knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools. Ability to gather and assess outcomes program evaluation data and use it to modify services at the programmatic level. Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student. Ability to interpret the evaluation data and write a comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers to student’s participation and occupational performance. Ability to participate collaboratively with multi-disciplinary educational teams to develop Individualized Education Programs to meet student needs. Ability to develop occupationally based intervention plans based on evaluation information. Ability to provide evidence based occupational therapy intervention to improve student’s performance skills and participation. Ability to plan, coordinate, and conduct continuing education for educational personnel, parents, and students. Skill in effective oral and written communication. Education and Experience: Current license by the State of California Board of Occupational Therapy. Two years of experience as an occupational therapist in a school setting. Experience in delivering services virtually preferred. Ability to provide services in person and online preferred. Founded by educators with a deeply held desire to bridge the growing resource gap between schools and the populations they serve, PSE's network of credentialed professionals is available to districts locally as well virtually, to provide comprehensive and tailored services to students and their families. In addition to pioneering virtual special education services, PSE has also developed several progressive student programs including enrichment workshops, multi-day mainstreaming events, and unique support groups like the wildly successful Girl Talk. PSE also works with schools to develop customized programming for students and staff. Since 2012, PSE has supported California communities by striving to help districts and students meet their goals of: Improving student matriculation, test results, and graduation rates Increasing inclusion and social confidence Ensuring compliance to avoid costly fines or legal action Preserving vital district resources by leveraging PSE's wide range of staff, systems, and services