Birch Family Services is a leading provider of education, employment, and community support services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities and their families in New York City. Every year, the organization supports more than 2,000 people across 31 locations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. From preschool to graduation, employment, housing, and beyond; Birch Family Services provides fully integrated programs and services to support individuals in achieving their goals across their lifetime.

Registered occupational therapists in educational systems are considered to be related service personnel. The Occupational therapist is responsible for implementing a student's IEP goals, which are designed to enhance the student's learning potential, to assist the student m acquiring those functional performance skills needed to participate in and benefit from the educational environment as well as help the student function independently.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Observation and Monitoring

• Make observations during preliminary screening of new students, and refer to evaluation if/when necessary
• Based on clinical observations write a full description of the child's performance and behavior referencing his/her sensory processing, perceptual skills and/or deficits in addition to the student's fine and gross motor coordination as they impact on the student's ability to participate and benefit from the educational environment.
• Make suggestions for approaches and activities that might enhance the student's ability to participate in educational settings.

Professional Training

• Take part in developing staff development and parent workshop opportunities around the development of gross motor, fine motor, and perceptual skills, and related underlying sensory and motor functions, leading to successful participation in the educational environment and more independent functioning.
• Demonstrate approaches and activities to be implemented by educational staff that will improve children's abilities to participate in the classroom
• Help the staff identify children's specific sensory and motor skill levels.
• Supervise student interns as assigned.

Individual and group related service provision and documentation.

• Develop a series of developmentally-graded activities based on evaluation, designed to improve sensory processing, fine and gross motor skills, and perceptual skills.
• Carry out medical prescriptions for occupational therapy.
• Maintain mandated documentation of treatment and progress (e.g., individual treatment session and quarterly progress notes, Related Service Attendance, etc.).
• Submit quarterly and annual reports that address the student's progress towards meeting IEP goals
• Make suggestions for IEP goals and participate as required in IEP conferences.
• Explain findings and program aims to parents, and recommend activities, physical positioning and/or adaptations that might facilitate increased independence in the home.

• Maintain OT equipment and supplies, and recommend ordering them as required by IEP mandates or needed clinically.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings reporting relevant information.
• Attend departmental meetings, supervision and school meetings, as well as any additional meetings, activities or functions of the school as designated by supervisory staff.
• Comply with regulatory requirements and school policy and procedures in all areas, and maintain appropriate learning environment, including clean and organized work and common areas.
• Maintain appropriate and effective interpersonal relationships with team and department members, parents, other staff, supervisors, administrators, and outside agencies.

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  • Open communication, flexibility and the ability to learn and utilize team building strategies

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  • The ability to self-evaluate, to utilize supervision and problem solve
  • The ability to both offer and accept assistance to/from others
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Position Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Occupational Therapy

Experience

Minimum of six months of supervised experience; prefer 1-3 years of related work experience.

Skills and Abilities

Certificates & Licenses

The Occupational Therapist must have completed an accredited education program and all field-work requirements. All OT programs are accredited by the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Must be certified by the Occupational Tehrapy Certification Board (OTCB) following successful completion of the national certification exam. The OT must be licensed.

EEO Statement

Birch Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Birch Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Birch Family Services expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Birch Family Services' employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.