Sau #6

Occupational Therapist

The Occupational Therapist provides services for the purpose of promoting health and wellness and to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction per the District Occupational Therapy Services Plan. Occupational therapy addresses physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, communication, and other areas of performance in various contexts and environments in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2004). The overarching goal of occupational therapy is "to support [people's] health and participation in life through engagement in occupations" (AOTA, 2008, p. 626).

Essential Job Functions:

• Respond to student referrals, assess student needs, and know the range of occupational therapy needs in the school.
• Participate in child find, kindergarten, and other screenings for the purpose of identifying students with functional concerns that may affect their educational progress.
• Evaluate students using clinical observation and standardized testing procedures that best identify student's potential needs.
• Develop individual student plans including identification of needs, goal setting, strategies, and assessment of outcomes.
• Implement individual student plans for students with special occupational needs; provide information, direction, and assistance to site personnel including occupational therapy assistants; and/or revise and implement plans per parent and/or physician directives.
• Administer specialized occupational therapy treatments that remediate or restore performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes; are appropriate for the students' identified needs; and in accordance with state laws and district policies.
• Use assistive technology/equipment, environmental modifications, and/or adaptive curricular activity to support optimal student performance, foster development, or compensate for reduced functioning.
• Monitor students referred for functional concerns to attend to their immediate concerns; adapt task, process, or the environment to enhance performance; and initiate follow-up services if needed.
• Promote health strategies and practices which enhance performance abilities.
• Consult and train team members, family, and students to support and improve the functional needs of children with identified needs and all students.
• Communicate with families in a sensitive manner; secure permission for occupational evaluations and services.
• Collect and analyze information attained from evaluation and services, adjust services accordingly, and communicate results verbally, audio/visually, and in writing.
• Maintain organized, clear, accurate, and useful records utilizing technology relevant to the provision of services and confidentiality requirements and in a manner compliant with current state and federal laws, rules, policies, and standards, and with professional occupational therapy standards in a school setting.
• Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to student, school staff, and school needs.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Keep abreast of current occupational therapy practices and changing special education legislation.
• Participate on health and wellness committees at school and district levels.
• Prepare and submit reports and budgets as requested.
• Maintain an effective data-management system for monitoring student progress and adjusting speech services.
• Collaborate with parents, students, teachers, staff, health care providers, and/or public agencies for the purpose of providing information, advising of changes in student need, recommending further intervention, promoting and/or securing student occupational therapy services, and complying with legal requirements.
• Attend faculty and team meetings.
• Participate in a professional learning community of data analysis, goal and plan development, and reflection.
• Engage in professional development offered by the school and district to maintain professional competencies.
• Be professional and abide by school and district rules and regulations outlined in handbooks, policies, job descriptions, professional development master plan, evaluation plan, etc.
• Perform any additional duties as requested by the Director of Special Education, which are consistent with the effective and orderly operation of this position and SAU 6.
• Participate in special projects as assigned by Director of Special Education and performs any other tasks or assumes such other responsibilities as the Director of Special Education may assign from time to time.

Education, Certification, and Licensure:

Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy program. NBCOT (National Board of Certified Occupational Therapist) certification (renewed every 3 years). NH state licensure from the Office of Allied Health Professionals (renewed every 2 years). Experience and other qualifications as specified by the Superintendent/Director of Special Education.

Physical demands of the job are as follows: Notable Activity Requirements Frequency (Constant, Frequent, Occasional, Unlikely) Sitting FREQUENT Standing OCCASIONAL Lifting/Pushing/Pulling < 25lbs FREQUENT Lifting/Pushing/Pulling 25lbs - 50lbs FREQUENT Lifting/Pushing/Pulling > 50lbs OCCASIONAL Stooping OCCASIONAL Bending OCCASIONAL Reaching FREQUENT It is also anticipated that stress will be associated with this position primarily due to the demands of this position. It is necessary that the individual have the capacity to remain calm, considerate, and tactful under stressful and unanticipated situations. Individual must exercise a high level of confidentiality in handling staff and student information.