Lincoln County School District #2

Occupational Therapist

Qualifications: 

At a minimum, candidates must meet and hold or be eligible for a current and valid Wyoming license with the Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy.

Description of the Position:

The occupational therapist will provide a full range of services to student’s grades K-12. This is considered a district-wide position, with assignments based on meeting student needs.

• Act under the general direction of the building principal(s) of the assigned school(s), as well as the Director of Special Services.
• Assesses students' fine and gross motor skills and functional abilities (e.g. perceptual-motor, hand functions, motor coordination, sensory development, muscle strength, etc.) for the purpose of determining program eligibility and developing recommendations for treatment, appropriate assistive devices and/or school placement.
• Assessing students' occupational performance in the areas of personal care, student role, interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication; planning and implementing appropriate intervention to support students’ progress toward IEP objectives
• Assist with the development of educational plans to meet the specific needs of students who would qualify for special education services as prescribed by both local and federal rules / regulations, governing service to students with disabilities.
• Promoting student access to all aspects of their education through collaboration/consultation, direct intervention, program development and modifications and training
• Leading the process of development, implementation, and coordination of the occupational therapy program

A strong candidate would exemplify the following attributes.

• An ability to work constructively and positively with students, peers, parents, and school or agency personnel
• A respect for individual and group differences
• A willingness to go beyond basic requirements
• Flexibility in adapting to change
• Excellent listening skills, writing skills, and verbal communication abilities
• An ability to respond to constructive criticism professionally
• Demonstrates well developed emotional maturity

Performance Responsibilities: Identification, Evaluation, and Planning

• Administers occupational therapy procedures and modalities for the purpose of achieving program objectives.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student occupational performance strengths and needs, through evaluation, educational program planning, and service delivery in relation to IEP.
• Conducts an OT assessment that evaluates a student within the educational (natural environment) setting for the purpose of assessing the students performance in activities that are curriculum oriented and applicable to functioning in the classroom and in daily life routines necessary at school.
• Synthesize evaluation results into a comprehensive written report, which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment; directs program development; and guides evidence-based intervention.
• Develop occupationally based intervention plans based on student needs and evaluation results.
• 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.

Service Delivery

• Provide targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and occupational performance within the school environment.
• Consult with the school-based team to achieve student outcomes.
• Adapt and modify the environment including assistive technology and training instructional staff to meet individual needs and to help student’s function as independently as possible.
• Educate student, 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.
• Document occupational therapy services to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate.
• Teaches, monitors, and collaborates with educational personnel, community agencies, parents, and students to increase understanding of the student’s occupational performance.
• Provision of services during extended school day or extended school year

Program Administration and Management

• Prioritize and schedules work tasks independently.
• Manage inventory of therapeutic equipment and assessments, and project needs
• Maintain clinical and administrative records in accordance with professional standards, state guidelines, and school system policy.
• Provide legal and ethical supervision of occupational therapy assistant assuming responsibility for the students served by assistant.
• Supervises non occupational therapy support personnel.
• Adhere to federal and state legislation, regulation, and policies.
• Reviews occupational therapy services for quality improvement and makes changes as needed to ensure quality of services.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; collaboration with other professionals and utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. Possible supervision of a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and or Intern / Practicum students.

Working Environment

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some climbing and balancing, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 40% sitting, 20% walking, and 40% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and in a generally hazard free environment.

In accordance with policy GBEC and procedure GBEC-R all new employees must submit to a pre-employment drug and alcohol test. Employee must consent to and provide the necessary documentation (fingerprinting, etc.) to allow for a criminal background check.