Description

Job Summary:

Under the direction and supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) provides appropriate intervention services designed to enhance the individual’s potential for performing in a variety of learning environments. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential to assist students and collaborate with the supervising occupational therapist, parents, educators, health professionals and school support staff. The COTA collaborates with the supervising OT.

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Implementation of therapeutic activities to remediate and/or compensate for difficulties in an individual’s fine motor, self-care, sensory motor, visual motor, perceptual, cognitive, behavioral and/or mobility skills, as deemed appropriate by the supervising occupational therapist
•  Document all therapy services including daily documentation within the designated time frame prescribed by the supervising occupational therapist
•  Collect data to assist the supervising occupational therapist in evaluating the individual’s needs and progress towards goals
•  Assist the supervising occupational therapist with determination of individuals’ adaptive equipment needs and in-service training of staff in use of adaptive equipment and therapeutic techniques
• Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies
•  Attend staff meetings/ in-services and team meetings as appropriate

Supervision

A COTA is professionally responsible under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. It is the responsibility of the supervising OT and OTA to make sure that individual supervision needs and state requirements are being met.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, you must demonstrate the following competencies:

Communications – Clearly expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; Clearly expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; Exhibits good listening and comprehension; Keeps others adequately informed; Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Cooperation - Establishes and maintains effective relations; Exhibits tact and consideration; Displays positive outlook and pleasant manner; Offers assistance and support to co-workers; Works cooperatively in group situations; Works actively to resolve conflicts.

Relationship Building - Builds rapport up, down, and across the organization; Establishes collaborative relationships to achieve objectives; Seeks win-win solutions to conflict; Develops network of professional contacts; Displays empathy and tolerates diverse viewpoints.

Care of individuals - Responds to individuals concerns with accurate information in an effective and timely manner; Takes personal responsibility to improve service; Works professionally and effectively with family members and guardians; Acts professionally with individuals and strives to solve problems.

Teamwork - Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Job Knowledge - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time or notifies appropriate person with alternate plan; Supports organization's goals and values; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality, while increasing productivity at the same time; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Initiative - Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited Associate’s or Bachelorette’s degree program following successful completion of all fieldwork requirements
• Must have passed the NBCOT Certification Examination for OTAs and be licensed in the State of North Carolina
• Must complete continuing learning activities as prescribed by the State to maintain licensure
• Minimum of one year of pediatric therapy experience is preferred

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

This person should have basic word processing skills (MS Word) and be able to use a variety of office and other equipment relevant to performing the essential duties of the position.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Physical Requirements

Bending or squatting to speak/interact with children on their eye-level, lifting of children or heavy objects. Must be able to operate a variety of automated office machines and other equipment (e.g. computers, copier, wheel chairs, etc). Physical demands are in excess of sedentary work; position requires walking, standing, reaching, fingering, stooping, lifting, etc. Will lift no more than forty pounds independently.

Working Conditions

May be exposed to blood, body fluids, burns, infectious diseases, air contaminants (including tobacco smoke), hazardous chemicals, and to the Hepatitis B virus, and will be responsible for following organizational safety policies and procedures and Health Department regulations regarding contact with any of the above. 

Other Skills and Abilities

Strong written and verbal communication skills; strong facilitation skills; ability to work well with others; ability to responsibly and confidentially handle sensitive student information. CPR and First Aid Certification may be required.

Additional and/or Program Specific Responsibilities:

A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and approved automobile insurance are required for this position.