OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - CHILDREN'S SERVICES

About the Role

A First Steps Occupational Therapist provides evaluations and therapy in various settings, assessing areas of development including Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Oral Motor, Perceptual Motor, and Sensory Integration functioning. The therapist develops treatment plans and outcomes reflected in each client's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) using therapeutic modalities and procedures to maintain or increase skills.

Responsibilities

• Evaluation:
  • Assist in evaluating children with a team of other therapists or individually.
  • Communicate the results of assessments or screenings as directed.
  • Determine each child’s assistive technology needs, including adapted chairs, wheelchair inserts, feeding devices, splints, adaptive toys, and switches.
• Therapy:
  • Provide individual therapy to maintain and improve gross and fine motor development, muscle strength, range of motion, sensory processing skills, oral motor skills, and self-help skills (feeding, dressing, and pre-speech).
  • Provide or obtain necessary equipment for proper positioning and play.
• Communication:
  • Deal effectively with staff, agencies, community programs, children, and their parents or guardians.
  • Maintain daily progress notes, quarterly reports, and records of evaluations and home visits.
  • Complete an exit skills summary for children transitioning to the school system at age three.
  • Participate in case conferences, staff meetings, and parent group meetings as requested.
  • Collaborate with team members to write annual IFSPs.
  • Attend workshops and conferences to meet the 15-hour minimum requirement and increase professional effectiveness.
  • Serve as a resource for information on motor development, sensory processing, and correct positioning for feeding and speech.
  • Provide evaluations in various settings to determine program needs for infants and toddlers.
  • Develop appropriate outcomes for IFSPs with other First Steps team members.
  • Provide reports and written programs to families and professionals following First Steps guidelines.
• General Responsibilities:
  • Ensure the health and safety of children served.
  • Serve as a role model and advocate for children served, protecting their rights.
  • Participate in required training and perform other duties as assigned by a supervisor.
  • Plan instructional activities for clients and assist families in accessing community activities.
  • Furnish required monthly statistics on time.
  • Respect the confidentiality and cultural diversity of children and families in accordance with LOGAN policies.
  • Serve on LOGAN committees addressing internal operations if requested.

Qualifications

• Education: Registered Occupational Therapist in the State of Indiana.
• Experience: One year of experience working with the pediatric population is preferred but not required. College practicum work in developing activities and strategies for infants and toddlers is acceptable.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Communicate effectively with staff, supervisors, and agency personnel.
  • Establish and maintain effective relationships with children and families.
  • Provide developmental outcomes for each child and demonstrate activities and strategies to families or caregivers.
  • Demonstrate creativity in exploring new and innovative ideas.
  • Work independently and use sound judgment.
  • Currently registered or licensed with the Health Professions Bureau of Indiana.
  • Possess a valid driver’s license and ability to drive to visits, therapy sessions, or IFSP sites.
  • Have reliable transportation.
  • Enrolled in the state of Indiana as a First Steps provider.
  • Ability to lift a child three years of age or younger, weighing up to 50 pounds, with adaptive equipment.