Occupational Therapist - Early Years Project - Part Time

Riverside Community Care • Somerville, MA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist will work within Riverside Early Childhood Services for Cambridge and Somerville, which is home to two programs, Early Intervention, and the Early Years Project. At Riverside Early Childhood Services, we co-create relationships, experiences, and environments which promote positive development, amongst team members and the people we serve. We are committed to clinical excellence, collaboration, and the process of continual learning. We meet all people where they are, recognize and nurture strengths, and attend to challenges. As a staff, we value our differences, flexibility, autonomy, and accountability, and show up for one another with kindness, support and direct communication. As a member of the Early Years Project Team, the Occupational Therapist provides consultations in licensed center-based and family childcare settings. Consultations are typically for individual children, from infancy through preschool. Service frequency depends on the level of need and our overall caseload. When there are safety concerns, services may be intensive and provided daily. We also provide classroom consultations, director and family support, and create resource materials, including handouts and workshops. We understand behavior is communication, and we use a neuro-relational, brain-body approach for educators, guardians, and children, with the goal of decreasing stress, and increasing regulation, and social emotional learning. Our work is grounded in cultural humility as we develop relationships with teachers and families, and grow in our understanding of their priorities, pedagogy, values, beliefs, strengths, sources of stress, and intervention needs. We engage in a collaborative process of change with caregivers through a blend of generative questions, reflective practice, modeling, and coaching, while offering frameworks and specific suggestions as appropriate. The Occupational Therapist works alongside Developmental Specialists in a collaborative service delivery model which includes observation, functional and other assessments as needed, direct service with the child, support plans, teacher and parent meetings. The OT will maintain an individual caseload and may lead or support group activities. The Occupational Therapist ensures the delivery of high quality, developmentally sound, and progressive services.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited recognized educational institution
• Five years' experience working with children six and under, and their caregivers
• Experience working with children with specific sensory needs that need to be supported, dysregulation, and behavioral challenges, including safety concerns and harm to self and/or others
• Fluency with computers in order to complete required documentation-Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Shared Calendars, download and upload documents
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for local travel
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to establish a rapport and work collaboratively with a diverse group of co-workers, handle multiple tasks, be flexible, and work independently

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in Spanish preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development principles and familiarity with a variety of concepts, practices and procedures in the field
• Previous experience in coaching childcare staff and providing training to parents and staff
• Experience in having difficult conversations with adults including discussions with caregivers regarding their children and providing feedback and suggestions

Responsibilities

• Provides consultations in licensed center-based and family childcare settings.
• Provides consultations for individual children, from infancy through preschool.
• Provides classroom consultations, director and family support.
• Creates resource materials, including handouts and workshops.
• Works alongside Developmental Specialists in a collaborative service delivery model.
• Maintains an individual caseload.
• May lead or support group activities.
• Ensures the delivery of high quality, developmentally sound, and progressive services.

Benefits

• Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
• Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
• Eleven paid holidays
• Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
• Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
• Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
• Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
• Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
• Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees