Occupational Therapist

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities The Occupational Therapist, a Related Service Provider (RSP), is responsible for providing direct and indirect service to students and staff consistent with the integration and collaboration model of the Cooke School. In this capacity, it is expected that the Occupational Therapist will establish collaborative relationships with parents, partner schools and Cooke colleagues to ensure successful inclusion for Cooke students.

The Occupational Therapist’s responsibilities include:

Assessment and Direct Service to Students Interpret assessments in order to determine level of functioning and needs of each child

Conduct ongoing informal assessments in the classroom and coordinate professional practice with pedagogic staff

Utilize a variety of activities to meet students’ needs as determined by informal and formal assessment

Utilize knowledge of content area to effectively serve students

Maintain ongoing communication with classroom teachers and parents about progress of the students

Attend team meetings prepared with information about the students being discussed

Collect and assess student homework for portfolio using portfolio guidelines and assessments

Meet typical physical demands of therapeutic service provision as required for domain

Planning and Record Keeping Develop Progress Reports on each student in conjunction with classroom teacher and other team members

Create plans consistent with Progress Report goals for each child

Maintain narrative logs for each child

Maintain attendance records for each child

Complete monthly documentation relevant to the number of sessions given to each child

Ensure that make-up sessions are provided

General Professional Responsibilities Initiate and foster good working relationships with teachers, paraprofessionals, administration, and parents.

Attend all planning meetings with the teachers and monthly meetings with each classroom team Participate in all Progress Report meetings convened at the school level

Attend and participate in all Cooke meetings and workshops

Arrive at assigned site and meetings promptly and be prepared for daily assignment

Prepare documents, when necessary, for CSE meetings and, if applicable, impartial hearings

Adhere to carefully planned schedules

Utilize supervisor for guidance, discussion, collaboration, professional and self-growth

Develop professional growth goals with supervisor and create and implement a plan to reach the agreed upon goals

Staff training is an integral part professional development  staff must at a minimum: attend all scheduled Staff Development activities throughout the year and participate in staff orientation scheduled for the last week in August

Education and Experience Valid and current License and/or Certification to practice in New York State Ability to provide your National Provider Identification (NPI) number

Physical Requirements Able to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students; the ability to…walk, run, sit, and standmove rapidly forward, backward, and laterally bend and stooppush, pull, and lift Professional Development All Cooke staff are responsible for developing a professional growth plan with their supervisor. Staff training is an integral part of the Cooke School and as such is a requirement of the job.

All staff must at a minimum: attend all scheduled Staff Development activities throughout the year and participate in staff orientation scheduled for the last week in August.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement The Cooke School and Institute provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender,…