Occupational Therapist or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) (361)

Revised: April 2022 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

SPA License Status: Licensed/Contract

SPA Probation: One Year

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervisor: Assistant Superintendent of Special Education; Executive Director of Special Education; Special Education Administrator (SEA)

Supervises: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, Level I and II Occupational Therapy students, and/or OTA students

Salary Schedule: Salary and work year according to current schedule

Terms of Employment: 8 hours / 9 months

Job Goal: To assess, improve and prevent functional impairments resulting from disability that limits the student's ability to benefit from his/her educational program

Minimum Qualifications

1. Valid New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant License
2. Must possess or eligible for New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) License
3. Outstanding verbal, written communication and organizational skills
4. Bilingual and Bi-literate in English and Spanish preferred

Job Duties

1. Perform appropriate screening/evaluations of students referred according to procedures (Evaluations may involve testing of fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, postural reflexes, self-care, sensory processing, life skills, assistive technology and needs for adaptive devices/equipment. Data may be gathered through record reviews, performance checklists, and other collection procedures. Information from parents and/or teachers may be part of the assessment process in the determination of present levels of performance).
2. Assist and guide teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified educational impairments relevant to occupational therapy services.
3. Participation in the IEP process, be it development and implementation of initial services, continuation, or discontinuation of occupational therapy services.
4. Participation in the development and implementation of therapy programs according to

Revised: April 2022 the students identified sensory motor, sensory processing, and perceptual motor needs to facilitate the student's ability to function in the educational setting.

5. Maintain current records that reflect progress made on the student's IEP goals and objectives.
6. Supervision and delegation of C.O.T.A. (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) duties in accordance with department policy and state rules and regulations.
7. Supervision of Fieldwork Level I and II Occupational Therapy students, and/or OTA students, as appropriate.
8. Identify therapy supplies and needed equipment to meet the needs of students on caseload and report needs to lead therapist.
9. Provide in-service education and serve as a consultant to teachers and school staff members, as appropriate.
10. Consult with school health personnel concerning students with related health problems.
11. Assist in appropriate referrals of students to agencies and specialists in the community.
12. Pursue professional growth through participation in in-service and staff development activities, as appropriate.
13. Provide classroom programs and home programs, as appropriate.
14. Provide itinerant services and home visits, as appropriate.
15. Provide information, support, and counseling to parents and families when appropriate
16. Supervise and evaluate assigned employees.
17. Exhibit professionalism by maintaining good attendance and adhering to established work schedule.
18. Comply with the Code of Ethics, administrative directives, board policy, state and federal statutes and rules and regulations.
19. Communicate and display courteous and professional behavior toward students, the public, the Immediate Supervisor, School and District Administrators, staff and peers.
20. Safeguard the confidentiality of information pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other applicable state and federal statutes.
21. Working outside of work schedule may be required.
22. Perform such other tasks as may be assigned within the parameters of the job description and job analysis.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Must be able to assist students with disabilities in areas of:
   • Lifting/carrying more than 45lbs (depending on age)
   • Pushing/pulling wheelchair, and
   • Personal hygiene
   • <
   • Must possess ability, skill, patience, and understanding to work with students with disabilities
   • May require bending, reaching, standing, kneeling, and squatting.

   • MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND WORK TOOLS Various machines, equipment, and work tools commensurate with the responsibilities and scope of work.

     Revised: April 2022

     WORKER TRAITS-Aptitudes

     1. Verbal ability required to understand oral and written instructions
     2. Motor coordination required to coordinate eyes, hands and fingers when operating machines and equipment essential to the job
     3. Manual and finger dexterity required to operate machines and equipment precisely and rapidly
     4. For further information regarding worker traits, please see attached job analysis

     EVALUATION Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the LCPS Board of Education's policy on evaluation of professional personnel.

     ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` I accept this position offered and agree to the above job description.

     Print Name__

     Signature____ Date

     Approved By__ Date_____