OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Classified Management

DEFINITION
Under supervision of the Director of Special Education, to provide a program of Occupational Therapy in the Saugus Union School District; to complete assessments of individual student’s needs for therapy; to collaborate with district personnel and parents regarding therapeutic activities, and to do related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
·Processes referrals and prepares assessment reports for occupational therapy within mandated timelines
·Assesses students’ abilities and performance in activities that are meaningful, related to curriculum & applicable to activities of daily living to determine educational need for therapy
·Develops, coordinates and implements individual occupational therapy intervention plans and supports the IEP goals and objectives
·Maintains a safe and orderly treatment area
·Collaborates with teachers and parents regarding plans for occupational therapy services including classroom modifications and home programs
·Recommends, designs, creates and assists in the procurement of equipment necessary for the students to meet their IEP goals
·Documents findings, actions taken, recommendations made regarding areas of service and maintains records as required by law
·Reevaluates students’ occupational therapy program in relationship to the goals yearly prior to the IEP and attend IEP meetings
·Trains and supervises technical staff as directed
·Provides inservice technical assistance to parents and District personnel as needed
·Acts as liaison between contract service agencies/providers and school district
·Other related duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE

Knowledge of:
·District administrative policies, organization, and operation
·State and Federal laws and regulations governing the special education department
·Fundamental principals and accepted trends in the field of school occupational therapy
·Typical disabilities, developmental levels, and characteristics of students with special needs in the elementary schools

Ability to:
·Use a variety of current methods, techniques, and practices in occupational therapy
·Communicate effectively with elementary special needs
·Understand the physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth patterns of students

Training and Experience:
·Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Occupational Therapy
·Previous employment as an Occupational Therapist with Children in a school based setting is desired or the combination of training and experience that provides the desired knowledge and abilities is required.

Licenses:
·Certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
·Certification of clinical competence as a Registered Occupational Therapist
·Professional license when required
·Valid California driver’s license and availability of private transportation
·Possession of valid first aid and CPR certificates.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
·Visual ability to read handwritten or typed documents, and the display screen of various office equipment and machines
·Able to conduct verbal conversation
·Able to hear normal range verbal conversation (approximately 60 decibels)
·Able to sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, walk and jump
·Able to sit for sustained periods of time
·Able to kneel or squat for extended periods of time
·Able to climb slopes, stairs, steps, ramps and ladders
·Able to lift up to 40 pounds
·Able to carry up to 40 pounds
·Able to sustain strenuous manual labor for 8 hrs.
·Able to exhibit full range of motion for:
·shoulder external rotation and internal rotation
·shoulder abduction and adduction
·elbow flexion and extension
·shoulder extension and flexion
·back lateral flexion
·hip flexion and extension
·knee flexion
·Able to demonstrate manual dexterity necessary to assist students with physical needs
·Able to maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal regulations.

While the ideal candidate will possess all these abilities, duties assigned can be modified to accommodate some physical restrictions.