Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (Part-time)

Job purpose
This opportunity is ideal for an Ohio Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA/L) specializing in a (therapeutic) school setting. This position is part-time and for the current school year, offering a structured environment with onsite OT supervision. The role focuses on supporting students’ occupational therapy IEP goals and programming within a therapeutic school setting.

Duties and responsibilities

•  Align practice and work with the agency mission, vision, guiding principles, the trauma-informed care and the Re-ED philosophy.
• Deliver occupational therapy services tailored to school- aged students
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, and parents to support student development
• Maintain accurate documentation of student progress and therapy plans
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to IEP goals
• Provide supervised therapy interventions to promote student independence and success
• Follow procedures for providing respectful and appropriate assistance to students for personal grooming, hygiene and toileting.
• Implement the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention model with fidelity and effectiveness to support treatment and reduce/avoid restraints.
• Transport students in agency vehicle to community activities and volunteer work sites as needed.
• Complete assigned duties competently and within expected time frames.
• Utilize safe work practices for self and others
• Demonstrate word processing skills and program navigation skills.
• Participate (and pass requirements where applicable) in all required trainings, including but not limited to; Vehicle Safety, First Aid, CPR, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Blood Borne Pathogens, and Standards of Practice.
• Participate in staff development activities, parent conferences, team meetings, and staff meetings as scheduled or assigned.    
• Ability to work respectfully with a culturally diverse population of clients.
• As a representative of the agency and profession, present self with decorum and in dress that is appropriate to the day’s activities.
• Adhere to PEP and ESC policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Occupational Therapy Assistant credential OH license required
• Willingness to work in collaboration with the OT in a school-based setting to provide services that are consistent with the IEP goals and in accordance with ODEW requirements.
• Willingness to maintain licensure credential.
• Experience in school-based practice.
• Experience working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
• Experience working with behaviorally/emotionally challenged children/youth.
• Ability to communicate accurately and effectively, both written and orally.
• Demonstrate effective decision-making skills.
• Utilize good judgment under routine and stressful work conditions.
• Work professionally, effectively and collaboratively with others.

Physical requirements

• Ability to participate in physical interventions, when necessary, and with fidelity to the methods taught through the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention model.  Physical interventions are low in frequency but require intense physical exertion. The object is to safely control/maintain a struggling and aggressive young person ranging from 50 – 250+ pounds.  Physical requirements include, but are not limited to: kneeling, possibly for extended periods of time on hard surfaces, bending, twisting, and holding.
• Ability to participate in therapeutic outdoor education/field trips which may involve hiking, biking, climbing, and swimming.
• Ability to use a computer and keyboard (eye-hand coordination and repetitive movements related to keyboarding).
• Ability to move around the classroom/center/community and sit and stand for more than an hour at a time. 
• Ability to visually and auditorily assess and monitor the mental health status of students for safety purposes.

Direct reports
None