Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Are you ready to join a team dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of autistic children in the Bay Area? At The Helix School, we're on a mission to transform young lives while advancing the state of the art in neurodiversity whole child development. Our method is the difference. We create a fabric of services that tightly integrates therapy and academics. If this sounds like something you are ready to be a part of, read on.

Our Values:
Quality of life is our bottom line.
Children with neurodiversity, primarily with an autism diagnosis, deserve to grow to their full potential.
Being small and focused enables us all to develop and learn more.
Being tightly integrated and highly coordinated is at our core.
Meeting our children at their level builds trust.
Our student and parent voices matter.

Our Purpose:
How do you change the trajectory of a child? At Helix, we're not here to simply educate; we're here to unlock and nurture a child’s boundless potential. Our vision and mission are built upon the foundation of providing a transformative education experience. We craft a tailored, evidence-based, and integrated curriculum that caters to each child's developmental stage, sensory processing differences, and emotional-regulatory needs.

Our Team:
Join our extraordinary team of passionate educators, occupational and speech therapists, behavioral experts, and mental health professionals who are committed to creating a brighter future for our students. We believe in the power of collaboration and support, ensuring every child's journey is unique and celebrated.

Under the direction and supervision of an Occupational Therapist, the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) assists in supplementing, enhancing, and extending occupational therapy services by completing a variety of tasks such as, but not limited to, direct activities with students designed to develop regulation strategies to be used in the classroom, creating fun and engaging motor planning activities as well as developing handwriting skills. The COTA serves students who have identified fine motor and sensory motor delays which may impact their performance in the classroom environment. This is a 10-month position.

Job Summary:  

As a Helix school COTA you will work with students who require occupational therapy services.  Your responsibilities focus on helping children be able to participate in educational activities and classes. You will help collect information and assess the needs of students before working with an occupational therapist to plan and administer a treatment program. In addition to potentially working with a few students who have physical barriers, you will also serve students who require a behavior modification program or counseling services.

The on-staff Occupational Therapists will provide periodic on-site supervision and observation of the assigned clients. Supervision may include observation, modeling, co-treatment, discussions, teaching and instruction, and may be provided face to face or by telephone, written correspondence, or electronically.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A person who meets the requirements for certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant established by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
• Certification is maintained by the AOTA.
• Currently certified in the state of California.
• Experience with the Autistic population highly preferred.
• Experience in the school setting preferred.
• Experience with sensory processing preferred.

BENEFITS:

• 401(k)
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Understands and adheres to established Agency policies and procedures
• Collaborates with all other members (e.g. clinical and classroom staff) on each student's team
• Meets regularly with OT(s) for review and implementation of OT plan of care and implementation.
• Performs services according to the plan of care established by the OT(s).
• Consults with OT(s) regarding change in treatment.
• Performs services planned, delegated, and supervised by the OT(s).
• Instructs students and team members in sensory regulation programs and fine/gross motor movement exercises.
• Participates in in-service education and presents in-service programs as assigned.
• Participates in performance improvement activities as assigned.
• Attends all student team meetings and/or parent meetings as scheduled.
• Prepares daily sessions notes and quarterly progress reports.
• Updates care plans for each student in a timely manner as per Agency policy.
• Participates in educating students, teachers, and families regarding any programming implemented.
• Supervises Level I occupational therapy fieldwork students a minimum of once per year.

Note: The COTA is NOT able to conduct evaluations, interpret data, alter IEP plans, or perform any task without the express knowledge and approval of the supervising OT.