Nature of Work

　　An employee in this class participates in the development, implementation, and coordination of an occupational therapy program to provide screening, evaluation, and treatment of exceptional students. The employee must select, from a wide range of activities, the program activity appropriate for each student. Problems that arise in the treatment program are expected to be resolved independently. Errors in the treatment could cause serious harm to students and potential liability to the school system. The employee receives general direction from the Director of Exceptional Children's Program. Direct supervision may be exercised over support personnel.

　　Education and Experience

　　Graduation from a four year accredited program of occupational therapy and two years of experience or a master's degree in physical therapy.

　　Certification and Licensure Requirements (if applicable):License as an occupational therapist in North Carolina.

　　Essential Functions/Typical TasksEvaluates students' abilities through a variety of functional and behavioral assessments and collection of informationProvides direct therapy through various activities to develop and maintain living skillsParticipates in the multi-disciplinary meetings to develop Individual Education PlansDesigns and constructs or modifies special equipment to meet individual needsInstructs and monitors educational personnel, community agencies, and parents in the program to increase strength and dexterity of exceptional studentsCoordinates the development and evaluation of a school-w ide occupational therapy program.Projects budget needs, prepares and maintains budgetDocuments needs for equipment and materialsMaintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with State guidelines and school policyThorough knowledge of the theory, principles, and methods of occupational therapyWorking knowledge of normal child developmentWorking knowledge of general management practiceSkill in adapting or designing equipment for individual needsSkill in administering treatmentAbility to select and administer appropriate assessment and treatment activitiesAbility to plan, implement, administer, and coordinate a physical therapy programAbility to plan, coordinate, and conduct on-the-job training and continuing education for a variety of individualsAbility to communicate effectively orally and in writingKnowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesThorough knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of occupational therapyConsiderable knowledge of appropriate evaluating toolsConsiderable knowledge of the equipment and assistive technology available to use in therapy.Considerable knowledge of current literature, trends and developments in the field of occupational therapy and general medicineConsiderable knowledge of feeding issues such as food consistency, oral motor functioning, adaptive equipment and specific feeding techniquesGeneral knowledge of the principles of organization and administrationSkill in adapting or designing equipment for individual needsSkill in administering treatmentAbility to select and administer appropriate assessment and treatment activitiesAbility to plan, coordinate and conduct on-the-job training and continuing education for a variety of individualsAbility to screen, evaluate and provide required occupational therapy servicesAbility to develop and implement individualized programsAbility to make decisions that may have medical, orthopedic or neurological implications.Ability to accurately document sessionsAbility to train others in simple therapy principlesAbility to maintain adequate inventory of suppiiesAbility to maintain complete and accurate records and to develop simple reports from those recordsAbility to stablish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.Physical RequirementsMust be able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, power tools, sewing machines, wheelchairs, electronic feeders, standers, hand tools, mechanical toys, craft tools, etc. Must be able to exert up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Position also requires the ability to read a variety of correspondences, medical records, educational records, test results, directives, requests, etc., and the ability to record and deliver information and to understand procedures.

　　Special RequirementsValid North Carolina drivers license