Occupational Therapist - Registered

Orange County Public Schools•Orlando, FL

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist supports exceptional education students’ participation in educational settings and helps ensure that recommendations, interventions, and communication promote student success in the least restrictive environment. The role provides screening, evaluation, educational program and transition planning, and therapeutic intervention for students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that affect daily living activities or participation in necessary or desired occupations. Using professional judgment and clinical knowledge, the therapist develops individualized programming addressing occupational performance in areas such as personal care, student role, interaction and process skills, play, community integration and work, and graphic communication. The therapist provides services to exceptional student education and 504 Plan students, as well as support to students receiving Multi-Tiered System of Supports. The position collaborates with students, families, school staff, other disciplines, and service providers; contributes to IEP and 504 Plan goals; supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and occupational therapy fieldwork students; and maintains required documentation, equipment, supplies, and therapy areas. The position reports to the Director - ESE Itinerant & Specialized Services and supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants.

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 diagnostic procedures in occupational therapy.
Knowledge of federal guidelines and legislation related to exceptional education, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
Effective written and oral communication skills and positive interpersonal skills.
Ability to analyze verbal and written data.
Knowledge of various learning styles.
Ability to collaborate with other disciplines and services at departmental and system levels, review outcomes, and modify interventions based on student needs.
Understanding of how to lead the development, implementation, and coordination of occupational therapy support as a related service.
Professional judgment and clinical knowledge to develop individualized programming based on occupational performance deficits.
Commitment to a core set of beliefs about learning, treatment, and ongoing professional development.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in a pediatric setting.

Responsibilities

Provide services to exceptional student education and 504 Plan students.
Provide support to students receiving Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
Assess or evaluate students suspected of having a disability and develop individual goals and objectives based on evaluation results.
Collaborate on occupational therapy goals and objectives for students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 Plans.
Implement occupational therapy services identified through evaluations and defined by student IEP goals and objectives.
Reevaluate students at intervals determined to be educationally and medically appropriate.
Provide training and professional development for instructional and classified staff on adaptive equipment use.
Communicate evaluation results and therapy reports to educational staff, parents, students, and, when appropriate and approved, other professionals and agencies.
Keep the school principal and district administrator informed of 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, and supervise occupational therapy fieldwork students; serve as a resource for other therapists.
Follow OCPS compliance procedures for occupational therapy and district policies and procedures, including HRMD guidelines, instructional initiatives, and fixed assets.
Collaborate across disciplines and service systems, review outcomes, and modify intervention programs according to student needs.
Identify disparities between current and desired conditions in assigned programs and work with others to develop plans and accountability systems addressing them in relation to district goals.
Participate in department meetings, contribute suggestions, assist with decision-making, and share professional information with colleagues.
Model professional ethics and values and respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner.
Use technology routinely and effectively in daily work, and keep skills current through supported training.
Maintain timely and accurate information and accountability for the quality of information maintained by supervised staff.
Pursue self-development and stay current on research, trends, best practices, and technology relevant to the role.
Develop leadership in subordinates and perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.