Occupational Therapist

About the role

To provide student evaluation, staff consultation, staff training and other appropriate intervention services to facilitate student participation in academic activities and to promote functional independence within the context of their school day. These interventions and activities may include fine motor, visual perceptual, sensory processing, self-help, and feeding skills. Occupational Therapist service may also include providing adaptive equipment or assistive technology to increase the student's independent functioning in the school environment.

Responsibilities

• Create and model a respectful learning environment.
• Effectively work with and respond to people from diverse cultures or backgrounds.
• Evaluate student's level of functioning in fine motor, visual motor, visual perceptual, sensory processing, self-help, safe feeding and independent foundational skills for academic access.
• Interpret standardized assessments and/or functional performance and compose results of evaluation in a timely and user-friendly manner.
• Provide therapeutic interventions in motor, adaptive and sensory areas.
• Participate in the development of student Individualized Education Plan (IEP)/504s and attends IEP/504 meetings.
• Collaborate with IEP/504 team to develop intervention goals and make recommendations to determine the appropriate level of service to support the student's academic access.
• Coordinate treatment with other specialists.
• Instruct students and appropriate classroom staff in the use of a variety of strategies, adaptive devices and/or assistive technology to facilitate academic access and independent functioning.
• Monitor ongoing effective use of strategies, equipment, technology, and/or protocols and guidelines.
• Monitor student program implementation in general education settings and special classes. This includes training and monitoring staff.
• Select, manage, design and/or construct adaptive devices, equipment or other assistive technology to enhance independence in the educational setting. Cleans and repairs equipment as needed.
• Maintain required documentation related to occupational therapy intervention and service in a timely and professional manner. Complete Medicaid forms as necessary.
• Clearly communicates, orally or in writing, with educational staff, parents, and when appropriate with other professional agencies involved with students.
• Act in a professional manner when discussing student or school issues, maintaining confidentiality.
• Seek professional development both to update knowledge and skills for practice as a school-based therapist and to fulfill continuing education requirements for maintaining state licensure.
• Maintain accurate, complete and confidential records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
• Utilize technology as related to job responsibilities.
• Reflect upon own performance and accept and utilize supervisory suggestions and feedback.
• Take primary responsibility for pursuing and evaluating own professional growth.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and district inservice meetings.
• Participate in activities that are related to school functions and/or the education process that occur outside the regular workday, in consultation with supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Hold a valid license granted by the Oregon Occupational Therapy Licensing Board.
• Graduation from an accredited program of Occupational Therapy.
• Successful completion of the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Experience with occupational therapy in educational settings is desirable.
• Knowledge of current occupational therapy theory, pediatric evaluation tools and techniques, therapeutic interventions, and school setting service provision.
• Knowledge of current special education procedures, rules and law.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to listen with empathy and understanding to others who have concerns to express.
• Knowledge of state and federal education laws and of student and staff rights.
• Ability to exhibit professionalism and effective human relations.
• Ability to effectively manage and supervise students and their work.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and collaboration efforts with staff and community.
• Ability to travel among district facilities as needed, and, if driving, the ability to meet district driving standards.
• Standard First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within two months of hire, may be required.

Physical demands

• Frequent or prolonged sitting.
• Crouching to work with younger students.
• Possibly moderate to high noise level.
• Frequent and prolonged talking/listening in conversations/meetings.
• Requires accurate perceiving of sound.
• Requires handling and working with a variety of materials and objects.
• Work may occasionally involve lifting/carrying objects weighing 25–35 pounds.
• Possible exposure to bodily fluids due to student injury or illness.
• Possible exposure to bodily harm due to student behaviors.

Work environment

• This position is primarily performed indoors in school buildings, although some outdoor instruction and supervision are required.
• This position involves working in close proximity to groups of children and adults.
• Evening and/or extended work hours may be required.
• This position may require traveling to multiple work sites.

Pay

$85,997 – $99,731 per year, prorated according to FTE. Salary based on full-time status.

Benefits

• Retirement contribution: Corvallis School District participates in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS and OPSRP) on behalf of its employees. Upon eligibility, the district contributes 6% of an employee's salary to their Individual Account Program (IAP). Eligibility is defined as working at least six full calendar months in a qualifying position. Part-time employees working at least six months and 600 hours in a calendar year will qualify.