What are the responsibilities and job description for the Support Special Services (Occupational Therapist/COTA & Physical Therapist) position at Special Services?
TITLE: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
QUALIFICATIONS: As set by state certification authorities
REPORTS TO: Special Services Director
JOB GOAL: To help students having motor problems achieve better skills, keeping with the goals and objectives of their IEP, so that they may become as independent as possible in fine motor and adaptive/self-help skills in the school environment.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Respond to referral requests as part of the educational team.
- Assess and document student skills and needs including, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Perceptual motor and sensory-motor functioning: kinesthetic, tactile, and vestibular sensation, visual motor coordination, bilateral motor coordination, motor planning, defensiveness or protective response to sensory stimulation, hand dominance, visual perception, position in space, and body image;
- Self-care skills: feeding, dressing, hygiene, toileting, grooming, wheelchair use, and transfer skills;
- Motor function: control and coordination of posture and movement, strength,
endurance, joint range ofmotion, fine motor skills, oral motor function, functional hand use;
- Vocational readiness skills;
- Need for individual and environmental adaptations, such as upper extremity splints and prosthetics, writing devices, eating utensils, adapted classroom equipment, positioning devices, and architectural modifications.
- In conjunction with other members of the educational team, determine educational goals and objectives and need for occupational therapy services.
- Implement and document occupational therapy services.
- Assess and recommend environmental modifications and equipment for accessibility and independence in the studenfs educational program.
- Consult with teachers regarding potential referrals and needs of students currently receiving occupational therapy services.
- Consult with, instruct, and monitor school personnel (teacher, paraprofessionals, and teachr assistants) on child specific activities and program modifications to work toward achievement of IEP goals and objectives.
- Manage own student load, documentation requirements, workspace, and equipment.
- Assume responsibility for supervising occupational therapy assistants as outlined by The American Occupational Therapy Association and in accordance with Oklahoma State Licensure laws.
Please note: To ensure continuity of services, remote work may be necessary in the event of a health crisis or disruptive situation that requires the closing of school and/or office buildings. An employee’s eligibility for remote work will be determined by the superintendent of schools. Expectations and guidelines for remote work will be distributed by the employee’s supervisor, based on his/her role and responsibilities.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Established by the Putnam City Board of Education. EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with
provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of certified or support personnel.
Approved by:__________________________________________ Date:________________
Reviewed and agreed to by:_______________________________ Date:________________
OR
TITLE: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
QUALIFICATIONS: As set by state certification authorities
REPORTS TO: Special Services Director, supervising Occupational
Therapist
JOB GOAL: To help students having motor problems achieve better
skills, keeping with the goals and objectives of their IEP,
so that they may become as independent as possible in fine
motor and adaptive/self-help skills in the school
environment.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Relay referral requests to the occupational therapist.
- Assist in gathering, organizing and reporting assessment data; when competency has
been established, the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, under the direction of the Occupational Therapist, may assess students using objective assessment tools that do not require a therapist’s professional judgement or training.
- Assist the educational team in developing IEP goals and objectives for students
currently receiving occupational therapy services.
- Implement and document occupational therapy services under the supervision of the
occupational therapist.
- Consult with, instruct, and monitor school personnel (teachers, paraprofessionals, and
teacher assistants) on child specific activities and program modifications to work toward achievement of IEP goals and objectives.
- Manage equipment, schedules, workspace, therapy files and perform other tasks as
needed for efficient functioning of occupational therapy services.
- Consult with the occupational therapist at regular intervals to review students’
program and progress toward IEP goals and objectives.
Please note: To ensure continuity of services, remote work may be necessary in the event of a health crisis or disruptive situation that requires the closing of school and/or office buildings. An employee’s eligibility for remote work will be determined by the superintendent of schools. Expectations and guidelines for remote work will be distributed by the employee’s supervisor, based on his/her role and responsibilities.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Established by the Putnam City Board of Education.
EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation of support personnel.
Physical Therapist
QUALIFICATIONS: · As set by state certification authorities
REPORTS TO: Special Services Director
JOB GOAL: To help students having motor problems achieve better skills, keeping with the goals and objectives of their IEP, so that they may become as independent as possible in gross motor skills and functional mobility in the school environment.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Respond to referral requests as part ofthe educational team.
2. Assess and document student skills and needs including, but not limited to, the
following areas:
a. Perceptual-motor and sensory-motor functioning: kinesthetic, tactile, and
vestibular sensation, bilateral motor coordination, laterality, body awareness, spatial orientation, and motor planning;
b. Motor function: control and coordination of posture and movement, strength,
endurance, joint range of motion, and gross motor skills;
c. Cardiovascular and respiratory functions;
d. Mobility: wheelchair skills, ambulation with or without adaptive equipment, and transfer skills
e. Need for individual and environmental adaptations:
1). Environmental accessibility;
2). Classroom positioning, including the need for adapting classroom equipment, e.g. desks, chairs;
3). Adaptive devices and equipment utilization including lower extremity orthotic
and prosthetic needs.
3. In conjunction with other members of the educational team, determine educational goals and objectives and need for physical therapy services.
4. Implement and document physical therapy services.
5. Assess and recommend environmental modifications and equipment adaptations for accessibility and independence in the student's educational program.
6. Consult with teachers regarding potential referrals and needs of students currently receiving physical therapy services.
7. Consult with, instruct, and monitor school personnel (teachers, paraprofessionals,
and teacher assistants) on child specific activities and program modifications to work toward achievement ofiEP goals and objectives.
8. Manage own student load, documentation requirements, workspace, and equipment.
9. Assume responsibility for supervising physical therapy assistants as outlined by the American Physical Therapy Association guidelines and in accordance with Oklahoma State Licensure laws.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Established by the Putnam City Board of Education
EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of certified or support personnel.
Approved by: Date:
Reviewed and agreed to by: ü Date:
(Signature)