OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - REGISTERED

Orange County Public Schools•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Facilitates exceptional education students’ ability to participate in their educational setting and helps ensure recommendations, interventions, and communication support student success in the least restrictive environment. Provides screening, evaluation, educational program and transition planning, and therapeutic intervention for students with or suspected of having disabilities that affect daily activities or participation in necessary or desired occupations. Uses professional judgment and clinical knowledge to develop individualized programming addressing occupational performance in personal care, student role, interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration or work, and graphic communication. Provides occupational therapy services to exceptional student education and 504 Plan students, including students receiving Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Services include assessment, evaluation, goal development, implementation, and reevaluation. The therapist collaborates with educational staff, families, students, other professionals, and agencies as appropriate; provides staff training on adaptive equipment; supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and occupational therapy fieldwork students; and maintains therapy documentation, supplies, equipment, and areas. The position is subject to a non-bargaining unit compensation plan for 217 days and is evaluated under Board personnel evaluation policy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (grandfathered in 2007), master’s degree, or doctorate from an accredited institution-level program.
Licensed by the Florida Department of Health in occupational therapy.
Knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practices.
Knowledge of support service delivery systems, exceptional education services, and current occupational therapy diagnostic procedures.
Knowledge of federal guidelines and legislation related to exceptional education, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
Ability to use effective, positive interpersonal skills.
Ability to analyze verbal and written data.
Knowledge of various learning styles.
Commitment to a core set of beliefs about learning, treatment, and ongoing professional development.
Ability to collaborate with other disciplines and services at departmental and system levels, review outcomes, and modify intervention programs according to student needs.
Ability to lead the development, implementation, and coordination of occupational therapy support as a related service.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in a pediatric setting.

Responsibilities

Provide occupational therapy services to exceptional student education and 504 Plan students.
Support students receiving Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
Assess or evaluate students suspected of having a disability.
Develop individual student goals and objectives based on occupational therapy evaluation results.
Collaborate on occupational therapy goals and objectives for students’ Individual Education Plans or 504 Plans.
Implement occupational therapy services identified through evaluations and defined by student plan goals and objectives.
Reevaluate students at intervals deemed educationally and medically appropriate.
Train instructional and classified staff on the use of adaptive equipment for students.
Communicate evaluation results and therapy reports to educational staff, parents, students, and, when appropriate and approved, other professionals and agencies concerned with the student.
Keep the school principal and district administrator informed about critical issues and incidents.
Participate in staff development activities and attend staffing and other school meetings when necessary and feasible.
Maintain supplies, equipment, therapy areas, departmental statistics, and required treatment documentation.
Supervise Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants as appropriate.
Participate in department meetings, contribute suggestions, support discussion and decision-making, and share professional information with colleagues.
Supervise occupational therapy fieldwork students and serve as a resource for other therapists.
Follow OCPS compliance procedures for occupational therapy and district policies and procedures concerning HRMD guidelines, instructional initiatives, and fixed assets.
Develop leadership in subordinates.
Keep current with technology used by OCPS and attend supported training to maintain required technology skills.
Maintain timely and accurate information and be accountable for the quality of information maintained by supervised staff.
Pursue self-development and stay current with research, trends, and best practices relevant to the role.
Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.
Manifest a professional code of ethics and values.
Respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
Use technology routinely, intentionally, and effectively in daily communications, organization, and management tasks.
Identify disparities between current and desired conditions in assigned programs and work with others to develop plans and accountability systems to address them.