PRN COTA

On With Life•Ankeny, IA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) at On With Life provides skilled, person-centered occupational therapy services to individuals receiving inpatient neurological rehabilitation for conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological diagnoses. Under the supervision and direction of a licensed OTR/L, the COTA implements individualized treatment plans to maximize functional independence, promote safety, and support participation in meaningful daily activities. The COTA works with Persons Served, their families or caregivers, and the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to support functional recovery, develop compensatory strategies, facilitate skill acquisition, and promote transition to the next level of care. The role contributes to an environment focused on evidence-informed interventions, meaningful therapeutic engagement, and functional outcomes within the available length of stay. The COTA practices within applicable laws, professional standards, payer requirements, organizational policies, and the COTA scope of practice. The supervising OTR/L retains responsibility for occupational therapy evaluation, interpretation of evaluation findings, establishment and modification of the plan of care, and other duties reserved to the occupational therapist. The COTA contributes observations and recommendations and implements delegated interventions under appropriate supervision.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy assistant program.
Current NBCOT certification, as applicable to employment requirements.
Current Iowa occupational therapy assistant license or eligibility to obtain licensure before beginning practice, as required by applicable law.
Current CPR/BLS certification consistent with facility requirements.
Ability to provide effective, respectful, and professional care to individuals with complex neurological and functional needs.
Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and interventions within the COTA scope of practice.
Ability to implement treatment plans and adapt activities within the established plan of care and under appropriate supervision.
Strong observation, clinical communication, organization, and documentation skills.
Ability to recognize changes in performance and communicate relevant findings to the supervising OTR/L.
Effective interpersonal skills and ability to establish therapeutic rapport with Persons Served and caregivers.
Ability to prioritize treatment activities and manage time effectively in a dynamic inpatient rehabilitation environment.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to a positive, person-centered team culture.
Commitment to safety, professional accountability, and continuous improvement.
Ability to work in a clinical rehabilitation environment and perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation; depending on assigned duties, this may include prolonged standing and walking, assisting with functional activities and transfers within established safety procedures, reaching and bending, moving therapeutic equipment, and responding to changing clinical needs.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in inpatient rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, acute care, or another medically complex rehabilitation setting.
Knowledge of stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological diagnoses.
Familiarity with restorative and compensatory rehabilitation approaches, adaptive equipment, and functional cognition strategies.
Experience collaborating within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team.
Commitment to evidence-informed practice, continuing education, and functional outcomes.

Responsibilities

Implement individualized occupational therapy treatment plans established by the supervising OTR/L.
Provide skilled interventions for ADLs, IADLs, upper-extremity function, fine motor coordination, functional cognition, visual-perceptual skills, sensory processing, balance during functional tasks, and other areas within the established plan of care.
Facilitate meaningful, goal-directed activities and repetitive, task-specific practice to promote independence, motor learning, and functional carryover.
Use restorative approaches, compensatory techniques, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications to support safety and independence.
Adapt treatment activities to each Person Served’s abilities, medical status, learning needs, goals, and response to intervention.
Apply knowledge of neurological conditions and address related functional limitations, including weakness, impaired coordination, altered sensation, abnormal tone, visual-perceptual deficits, cognitive impairment, reduced activity tolerance, and impaired motor control.
Implement OTR/L-directed interventions for upper-extremity recovery, positioning, range of motion, functional use of affected extremities, and prevention of secondary complications.
Use appropriate strategies for attention, memory, executive functioning, problem-solving, and safety awareness during functional activities.
Recognize and communicate changes in functional performance, medical status, behavior, or safety to the supervising OTR/L and relevant team members.
Educate Persons Served and caregivers on established treatment strategies, adaptive equipment, safety techniques, positioning, and functional routines within the COTA’s scope and under OTR/L direction.
Participate in caregiver training and discharge preparation, reinforce strategies across sessions and daily routines, and encourage participation in goal setting and treatment.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to coordinate care, communicate progress and safety information, participate in meetings and discharge planning, and reinforce consistent approaches across disciplines.
Complete timely, accurate, and objective documentation of interventions, responses, functional performance, progress, attendance, and other required information in accordance with organizational procedures, payer requirements, regulations, and professional standards.
Comply with state and federal regulations, facility policies, confidentiality requirements, infection prevention practices, and ethical standards.
Maintain a safe therapeutic environment; follow precautions; monitor responses to activity; use therapeutic equipment and adaptive devices appropriately; and report equipment concerns or safety hazards.
Promote dignity, privacy, choice, accessibility, and respect in all interactions.
Participate in continuing education, competency development, quality improvement, department meetings, staff education, student learning experiences, and other assigned professional activities.
Assist with maintaining an organized, clean, and appropriately equipped treatment environment, and perform other duties consistent with the position, qualifications, and scope of practice.