BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Responsible for the provision of occupational therapy evaluation and therapy services.  Responsible for clinical leadership, supervision and assistance to Occupational Therapists (OTs), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) and additional colleagues for the provision of rehabilitation services at all locations.

REPORTS TO

• Director of Rehab Services

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Supervisory Responsibilities: YES

Minimum Education: Bachelors Degree required; masters degree preferred

Degree: Degree in Occupational Therapy required

License/Certification Required: Tennessee State Occupational Therapist license 

Minimum Work Experience: 3+ years increasingly responsible pediatric occupational therapy experience  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong diagnostic and treatment skills with all aspects of occupational therapy
• Knowledge of typical and atypical motor and sensory development in childhood
• Strong communication skills
• Strong time management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completes evaluations of assigned patients in accordance with the established standards of care and practice.  Provides clinical guidance and supervision for evaluations: Independently performs consultations/evaluations on patients according to best practices and departmental standards.  Supervises and periodically reviews evaluations with therapists. Identifies needs and strengths that reflect an accurate assessment of the patient’s status, per documentation. Completes comprehensive assessment based on patient’s medical and developmental status. Completes reassessment for patients whose care is ongoing. Makes appropriate decisions regarding care based on patient readiness and ability to participate.  Supervises and periodically reviews factors for clinical decision-making with therapists. Assists other therapists via case review, demonstration, and mentoring to enhance assessment skills in area of expertise. Suggests adding new standardized measure and outcome tools as they become available and have applicability to patient population.
• Develops a Plan of Care to promote optimum function and safety as documented in the clinical record.  Provides clinical guidance and supervision for plan of care development: Partners with patients and caregivers to establish goals for Plan of Care based on an episodic care model. Establishes interventions and specific measurable outcomes that are consistent with identified needs and strengths.  Identifies goals, outcomes and timeframes that are realistic, measurable and address functional needs and strengths.  Supervises and periodically reviews goals and measurable outcomes with therapists. Assists other therapists to design and implement episodes of care in collaboration with the patient/family. Modifies and updates the plan of care based on patient progress and caregiver input.    Supervises and periodically reviews plans of care with therapists. Supports modifications to the plan of care with documentation of clinical decision-making in reports, notes and progress summaries.  Supervises and periodically reviews documentation with therapists.
• Provides skilled therapy, reassessing patient status during each session ensuring quality of care.  Provides clinical guidance and supervision for the provision of skilled therapy: Selects and performs therapeutic techniques and that are appropriate to patient’s needs and medical status, reflecting therapist’s clinical knowledge and theory.  Supervises and periodically reviews selection of therapeutic techniques with therapists. Provides patient/caregiver education regarding treatment, precautions and equipment use and documents patient/caregiver understanding/demonstration provided.  Supervises and periodically reviews patient and caregiver education with therapists. Plans discharge at evaluation and throughout the course of treatment based on patient response, caregiver goals, participation and progress.  Supervises and periodically reviews discharge planning with therapists. Prepares the patient and family for episodic transitions and discharge from therapy and provides education to determine if/when follow-up therapy services are indicated. Develops, reviews and revises discipline-specific competencies that utilize current therapy standards of care for a variety of patient conditions and populations and family-centered planning and informed decision making.  Reviews competencies with therapists at regular intervals or when otherwise indicated. Identifies new/revised treatment tools and approaches and assists in implementation