Occupational Therapist

Job Description: Summary: This position is responsible for the provision of family-centered culturally competent services for children and their families, birth to eight with typical development and developmental delays. The individual uses a primary service provider and coaching approach to instruct families and their children in activities designed to promote social, physical and intellectual growth needed for child development in their natural environments. This position provides interim and on-going services to families receiving services from IMUA Family Services. The individual compiles the necessary information and data for programming and to create accurate reports and billing for various funding sources. Essential duties and responsibilities also include providing information to other professionals and the community as well as conducting other clerical work and administrative duties as required. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Use a Primary Service Provider Approach and Coaching when working with families and children. Knowledge of and experience with providing evidence-based practices in early childhood development including multi and trans-disciplinary service coordination across areas of expertise, assessment and service planning, diagnosis of specific therapeutic interventions, identification of adjunct service needs and the ability to effectively collaborate with others to assure access to interventions and services. Establishes a trusting relationship with families by initiating and maintaining regular participant contact. Facilitates and participates in the development, review and evaluation of service plans whenever appropriate with families and in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines. Responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the service plan and is skilled in: Establishing relationships with individuals and families that maintain and promote their self-respect and encourage their independence. Assessing the progress of children and families regarding the service plan. Applies working knowledge of parent-child interaction and child development when working with families. Demonstrates observational skills, and uses observations of family dynamics to assist in developing ways to improve overall functioning of the child. Maintains confidentiality of child/family, agency records and all related information. Able to document observations and progress of child in a clear and concise way. Meets regularly with Supervisor to review child’s progress towards outcomes, goals and objectives. Maintains assigned caseload size while meeting hours required for the position. This size is adjusted according to program and client needs. Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers as part of a team, and professionalism in interpersonal staff relationships. Demonstrates: A commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems. The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence. The ability to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service outcomes and to set appropriate limits. Demonstrates organizational skills and time management in independently managing work, caseload and related responsibilities. Recognizes need for professional intervention and makes appropriate and effective referrals. Works effectively with employees from other agencies and members of the community. Electronically enters data regarding client services. Communicates with team members to resolve questions, inconsistencies or missing information and data. Makes necessary corrections to information as needed. Compiles sorts and verifies accuracy of data collected and electronically entered. Files and maintains source documents in an organized fashion. Maintains client files, both paper and electronic, in an organized, sequential manner. Responds to inquiries regarding information collected and maintained. Accepts referrals via phone, fax, and email or in person for agency programs and direct referrals to the appropriate staff. Performs clerical duties, such as filing, photocopying, faxing, shredding and collating. Actively participates in committees, teams and task forces as required and directed by the agency. Conducts chart reviews for Quality Assurance and to meet National, Federal, State, County and Program Guidelines. Monitors service delivery and service gaps. Works closely with Program Director on staff training and development to improve skills and to ensure evidence-based best practices and service delivery. Ensures that Family Surveys are conducted annually for all families receiving services. Participates, as necessary, in various fundraisers and other agency out-reaches activities that serve to increase the credibility and visibility of IMUA Family Services in the community. As noted by Program Director reviews all documents (e.g., notes, ISPs, HPs, IFSP’s, Screeners, Assessments, Evaluations and Multidisciplinary Evaluations, billing) for Quality Assurance to meet Federal, State, County and Program Guidelines. Must serve as a role model by utilizing effective and appropriate strategies including appropriate resolution of conflict, and by practicing and demonstrating a healthy and appropriate life style. Assist agency and program with day to day tasks. Responsible to organize meetings and trainings as assigned. Assists in maintaining all health, sanitary and safety conditions. Assist parents by suggesting activities, educational material and by modeling appropriate interactions with children. Provides information to families to access resources available through IMUA Family Services and the community. Plans individual and group activities to stimulate growth in all developmental domains of early childhood development. Instructs families and their children using developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). Use best current practices in early childhood education to meet the care and learning needs of children. Maintain an active, functional, appropriate and inclusive environment. Maintain current health and safety practices, including safe diapering and toilet learning. Adhere to the Code of Ethical Conduct of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Reviews client files to obtain background information prior to evaluation to determine appropriate tests and to ensure that adequate information is available. Performs appropriate Developmental Evaluations and periodic assessments according to age or developmental level of child, areas of concern, program policies and procedures, and use a multidisciplinary team approach. Identifies children with delays in development or specific disorders. Provides direct and consultative therapeutic services to children enrolled in IMUA programs according to policies and procedures and individual plans. Counsels and coaches family members with respect to the results of the evaluation and makes appropriate recommendations and referrals. Provides services for the habilitation in social, emotional, motor, adaptive, physical, behavioral and cognitive domains and developmental concerns associated with the domains. Refers appropriate children for medical or other professional services necessary to maximize the developmental progress of children with delays in all areas of development. Participates actively in meetings with other team members, including families and other medical or professional services in order to develop an individualized plan for assigned clients that meet clients' and their families' needs, interest and abilities. Provides family-centered direct, multi and transdisciplinary and consultative therapeutic services to children enrolled in IMUA programs according to policies and procedures and individual plans in order to prevent or minimize the impact of initial or future impairment, delay in development or loss of functional ability. Provides direct and consultative services with specific regard to any necessary adaptation of the environment and selection, design and fabrication of assistive technology to facilitate development and promote the acquisition of functional skills. Provides consistent and timely feedback regarding the progress and status of clients to other members of the team, including families. Maintains records as required by law and program policies and procedures including: Completes all screening, evaluation, assessment and Multidisciplinary evaluation reports and individualized service, home and family support plans, within the timelines established by written program policies. Documents all communication regarding the client (including phone calls, text messages, emails, team meetings, verbal communication and written correspondence) in daily notes. Completes all documentation necessary to accurately represent billable and non-billable services according to written program policies. Maintain productivity and billing rates as designated by IMUA Family Services. Meets all programmatic requirements including to adherence to timelines, deadlines and necessary reporting for children. Responsible for complying with licensing requirements and maintaining electronic and physical files of children in the program including consents for service and documentation. Provides curriculum, lessons, activities and material for individual and groupings. Provides parent training and consultation in the areas of child development, therapeutic interventions and other topics related to the individual’s specific discipline and developmental delays as needed. Provides services in Hana, on Lanai and Molokai as needed while demonstrating an understanding of cultural uniqueness. Presents a positive and professional image to client, families, staff, community agencies and visitors. Relates to clients and families in a warm, courteous and professional manner. Presents information and recommendations clearly and effectively and communicates in a constructive, supportive manner. Maintains a high level of professional knowledge and competency through participation in meetings, conferences, review of current literature and other learning activities to promote professional growth in child development, the individual’s specific discipline, early intervention and early childhood education. Acts as a consultant to educational, medical and other professional groups. Serves as a consultant to other professionals to incorporate child development therapy development activities into daily schedule. Attends and participates in regular agency and staff meetings, case conferences, in-service trainings and other meetings as required. Conducts in-service presentations at staff meetings on pertinent early childhood, special education and early intervention at the request of the Program Director. Participates as necessary in various fundraiser, other agency activities and meetings that serve to increase credibility and visibility of IMUA Family Services in the community. Maintains confidentiality of all records and information while following Federal, State and County laws. Completes document and chart reviews of client charts in order to meet quality and compliance as measured through the State of Hawaii Monitoring requirements. This includes active and discharged clients. Review evaluation, assessments and service plans in order to meet quality and compliance as measured through IDEA, State of Hawaii and IMUA Family Services requirements. Completes other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor. Occupational Therapists: Identifies and provides services to children with fine motor or feeding disorders and delays in development of motor skills including the diagnosis and appraisal of specific disorders and delays in those skills. Focuses on the functional needs of the child related to adaptive development, adaptive behavior and play, sensory, motor and postural development. Supervisory Responsibilities:This position may be required to supervise the work of student interns and Support Service Providers as directed. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and procedures and applicable laws as determined by the supervisor. Quality Improvement:Assist Program Director in development and implementation of quality improvement practices which may require additional tasks as need that are not related to direct services or discipline specific duties. . Employee Standards:Customary ComplianceAdheres to agency rules, policies, procedures and guidelines.Assists in care and maintenance of agency equipment and supplies.Provides proper notification when late or absent by following policies and procedures.Fiscal ResponsibilityAdheres to administrative procedures for the agency.Manages equipment, materials, supplies and time within budget.Quality ImprovementUses the values, philosophy, tools and techniques of quality improvement to support the organization’s quality in all daily work.Actively participates in quality improvement education.Actively participates in committees, teams and task forces as requested.Develops and adheres to action plans for performance improvement and understands what is necessary in order to meet agency’s need and expectations.MissionExhibits a commitment to the organization’s mission.Is able to interact in a positive and helpful manner with participants, visitors, volunteers, other agencies and staff.Respects the dignity of all by maintaining their privacy, confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.Reflects commitment to building a supportive work environment and maintains a positive attitude in the work place toward the job; refraining from gossip and negative attitude/behavior.Projects a good image in dealing with the public and is willing to make an extra effort to help build a high quality and caring social services organization.Demonstrates the ability and sensitivity to work with diverse cultures within the community.Effective CommunicationDemonstrates effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately and concisely, listening effectively and asking pertinent questions.Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with other programs and staff as well as have the ability to read, write and understand written material effectively to meet the job requirements.Staff RelationsEstablishes and maintains cooperative relationships with participants, staff and others using a humanistic attitude (anticipates needs; is respectful, honest, caring, and courteous).Interacts with fellow workers in a way that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment. Qualifications:Other qualifications listed below are needed to adequately fulfill essential job duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Time management, attention to detail and organizat