Occupational Therapist Candidate Pool

Howard County Public School System • Lawrence, MA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is seeking an Occupational Therapist to provide occupational therapy services. This role involves protecting and promoting the health and functional independence of students to facilitate their access to educational programming. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of child development, sensory integration techniques, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions to support students with diverse needs in achieving their academic and functional goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Valid state licensure or eligibility for licensure as an Occupational Therapist (OT-L) from the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
• Hold or be eligible for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and must be actively enrolled in Maryland Medicaid.
• Employees not holding NPI or Maryland Medicaid enrollment upon hire must apply for NPI within 10 days of employment and Maryland Medicaid immediately upon receipt of NPI.
• Employee must retain active NPI and Maryland Medicaid enrollment as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Three (3) years of experience as an Occupational Therapist working with the pediatric population.
• Certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) (OT-R).
• Previous experience working with children and adolescents in educational or pediatric settings.
• Strong knowledge of child development, sensory processing theory, and therapeutic techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills across all stakeholders.
• Dedication to providing high-quality, evidence-based services to support students' success and well-being.
• Thorough knowledge of the IEP/IFSP process.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to evaluate students' fine and functional motor skills, sensory processing, visual-motor integration, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in relevant educational environments.
• Interprets and reports results of assessments verbally and in writing to all stakeholders through the IEP team process.
• Develop individualized treatment plans and goals in collaboration with teachers, parents, and other members of the educational team.
• Implement evidence-based therapeutic interventions to address students' areas of need, such as sensory diets, fine motor activities, handwriting skills, and adaptive equipment utilization.
• Provide direct intervention services to a caseload of students in individual or group settings within the school environment.
• Monitor students' progress regularly and adjust treatment plans as necessary to ensure continuous improvement and attainment of goals.
• Collaborate with teachers and other school personnel to integrate therapeutic strategies into the classroom and daily routines.
• Offer consultations and training to teachers, parents, and staff members on strategies and equipment to support students' sensory and motor needs in educational settings.
• Maintain accurate documentation of assessments, progress notes, service logs, and treatment plans in compliance with regulatory standards and school policies.
• Collect and analyze data on student performance, engagement, and behavior to improve student outcomes and direct intervention.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and other relevant meetings to contribute to students' educational planning and outcomes.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy.
• Stay abreast of current research, trends, and best practices in occupational therapy and education to inform practice and enhance service delivery.
• Participate in professional development activities designed to advance knowledge in the areas of education, compliance, and best practices in occupational therapy.
• Provide supervision and/or training of paraprofessionals and OTAs as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees.
• Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.
• Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level