Occupational Therapist (School-Based)

The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh•Pittsburgh, PA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist provides school-based occupational therapy services as a related service within an Approved Private School, supporting students with complex educational, behavioral, communication, and developmental needs. The Occupational Therapist evaluates students, develops and implements individualized interventions aligned with each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), and collaborates with educators, families, and multidisciplinary team members to maximize students' access to the curriculum and participation in the school environment. Using evidence-based practices, including principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the Occupational Therapist prioritizes services within natural learning environments whenever appropriate to promote skill development, independence, and generalization. As a member of the educational team, the Occupational Therapist supports student success by fostering functional skills that enable meaningful participation in educational activities and school routines.

Requirements

Relevant pediatric or school-based occupational therapy experience.
Must be registered with NBCOT.
Bachelor's, Master's, MOT, or OTD degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program.
Current Pennsylvania Occupational Therapist licensure or eligibility for licensure.
Must successfully complete the following pre-employment clearances: Act 34 Criminal Background Check, Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance, Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Background Check.

Nice To Haves

Current and valid CPR and First Aid certification preferred (training provided if needed).
Advanced certifications or specialization in pediatric therapy preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides Occupational Therapy screenings and evaluations.
Contributes to student IEPs and attends meetings.
Integrates The Day School's curriculum into sessions.
Attends and participates in classroom Team Planning Meetings.
Monitor and adjust interventions based on patient response and progress toward goals.
Identifies management needs and seeks help in gaining a working command of the elements and techniques of classroom management.
Demonstrates understanding of effects of family and community on student behavior and performance.
Demonstrates competency in both group and individual Occupational Therapy activities.
Clearly demonstrates competency in delivering individual and group therapy sessions.
Demonstrates appropriate techniques when working with students.
Trains, assists, and consults with other members of classroom teams to maximize effective implementation of Occupational Therapy goals throughout the school day.
Maintain organization of treatment spaces to support student safety, engagement, and participation.
Monitor, inspect, and maintain adaptive equipment, sensory support, and assistive technology to ensure proper function and safety.
Attends specific instructional strategy training activities.
Demonstrates understanding of the Occupational Therapy profession.
Demonstrates compliance with policies and procedures of The Children's Institute.
Completes all student documentation accurately and within facility time frames.
Completes all administrative documentation accurately and within given time frames.
Maintains appropriate, valid, and current Pennsylvania certification and/or licensure, as appropriate.