Description
POSITION PURPOSE
Provides academic therapy services by evaluating, assessing, selecting interventions, and treating clients who demonstrate areas of academic weakness and/or difficulties with executive functioning skills.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & BASIC DUTIES
- Administers and scores academic and phonological awareness assessments, interprets results, and completes written reports, as indicated.
- Assists with Academy testing and AERC psychoeducational testing, as indicated.
- Refers clients for additional assessments and/or services, as appropriate.
- Develops treatment plans for academic therapy clients based on results of formal and informal assessments, psychological/psychoeducational test results, and/or consultations. Treatment plans include measurable goals and objectives.
- Reviews and updates each client’s treatment plan at least annually.
- Develops weekly lesson plans to target goals and objectives.
- Provides academic therapy services to identified clients, as indicated and/or recommended. Explanations for missed sessions are documented.
- Identifies materials and equipment needed to provide appropriate treatment. If materials or equipment are not available, therapist may create them or request them through his/her supervisor.
- Provides consultation or collaboration in the classroom and other functional settings as appropriate in order to assist each client with generalization of skills into his/her daily environment and routine.
- Works closely and meets regularly with each client’s interdisciplinary team to collaborate, discuss, and solve problems and issues related to the client’s plan of care and progress toward identified goals and objectives. Communicates with school officials and/or team members about recommended accommodations and modifications in the classroom, as appropriate.
- Uses deTaso to document weekly therapy schedules, daily progress notes, and billing.
- Completes other documentation related to academic therapy using either deTaso or paper documentation, as appropriate.
- Provides written communication or documents verbal conversations with parents/guardians related to client progress at least every two weeks.
- Completes written progress reports at the end of each semester.
- Completes written discharge summaries when the client is discharged from academic therapy.
- Completion of professional continued education demonstrating current training related to state and national trends in student achievement.
- Attends and actively participates in job-related functions such as department and team meetings, parent conferences, peer reviews, workshops, and mandatory trainings.
- Manages assigned caseload to ensure clients’ needs and weekly productivity requirements are met.
- Maintains familiarity with health and safety guidelines, including standard precautions and daily operating procedures.
20. Represents the program in a positive way to parents, visitors, and the public.
21. Completes relevant and approved continuing professional education each year as required to maintain professional licensure and other required standards.
22. May perform other related or non-related duties, as assigned.
COMPETENCIES
Ethics:
- Treats people with respect.
- Keeps commitments.
- Inspires the trust of others.
- Completes work ethically and with integrity.
- Upholds organizational values.
Judgment:
- Displays willingness to make decisions.
- Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
- Supports and explains reasoning for decisions.
- Includes appropriate people in decision-making process.
- Makes timely decisions.
- Demonstrates safety awareness.
Client Focus:
- Demonstrates a commitment to clinical excellence.
- Manages difficult or emotional client situations.
- Responds promptly to client needs.
- Includes clients, parents/guardians, teachers, and other service providers in the academic therapy process through regular communication. Solicits feedback to improve services.
- Responds to requests for service and assistance.
Planning/Organizing:
- Prioritizes and plans work activities.
- Uses time efficiently.
- Plans for additional resources.
- Sets measureable, client-focused goals and objectives and updates, as indicated.
- Develops realistic action plans.
- Maintains a neat and organized workspace.
Problem Solving:
- Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
- Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
- Develops alternative solutions.
- Works well in group problem-solving situations.
- Involves supervisor and relevant team members in the problem-solving process, as indicated.
- Uses reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.
Professionalism:
- Communicates with others in a tactful and professional manner.
- Participates appropriately as a member of a team.
- Responds well under pressure.
- Treats others with respect and consideration, regardless of their status or position.
- Accepts responsibility for own actions.
- Follows instructions and responds to supervisory direction and feedback appropriately.
- Completes tasks within established deadlines.
Quality:
- Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
- Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
- Applies feedback to improve performance.
- Monitors own work to ensure quality.
Written Communication:
- Writes professionally, informatively, and in accordance with payor source guidelines.
- Edits work for spelling and grammar.
- Varies writing style to meet needs.
- Presents numerical data effectively.
- Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret written information.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
POSITION PURPOSE
Provides academic therapy services by evaluating, assessing, selecting interventions, and treating clients who demonstrate areas of academic weakness and/or difficulties with executive functioning skills.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & BASIC DUTIES
- Administers and scores academic and phonological awareness assessments, interprets results, and completes written reports, as indicated.
- Assists with Academy testing and AERC psychoeducational testing, as indicated.
- Refers clients for additional assessments and/or services, as appropriate.
- Develops treatment plans for academic therapy clients based on results of formal and informal assessments, psychological/psychoeducational test results, and/or consultations. Treatment plans include measurable goals and objectives.
- Reviews and updates each client’s treatment plan at least annually.
- Develops weekly lesson plans to target goals and objectives.
- Provides academic therapy services to identified clients, as indicated and/or recommended. Explanations for missed sessions are documented.
- Identifies materials and equipment needed to provide appropriate treatment. If materials or equipment are not available, therapist may create them or request them through his/her supervisor.
- Provides consultation or collaboration in the classroom and other functional settings as appropriate in order to assist each client with generalization of skills into his/her daily environment and routine.
- Works closely and meets regularly with each client’s interdisciplinary team to collaborate, discuss, and solve problems and issues related to the client’s plan of care and progress toward identified goals and objectives. Communicates with school officials and/or team members about recommended accommodations and modifications in the classroom, as appropriate.
- Uses deTaso to document weekly therapy schedules, daily progress notes, and billing.
- Completes other documentation related to academic therapy using either deTaso or paper documentation, as appropriate.
- Provides written communication or documents verbal conversations with parents/guardians related to client progress at least every two weeks.
- Completes written progress reports at the end of each semester.
- Completes written discharge summaries when the client is discharged from academic therapy.
- Completion of professional continued education demonstrating current training related to state and national trends in student achievement.
- Attends and actively participates in job-related functions such as department and team meetings, parent conferences, peer reviews, workshops, and mandatory trainings.
- Manages assigned caseload to ensure clients’ needs and weekly productivity requirements are met.
- Maintains familiarity with health and safety guidelines, including standard precautions and daily operating procedures.
20. Represents the program in a positive way to parents, visitors, and the public.
21. Completes relevant and approved continuing professional education each year as required to maintain professional licensure and other required standards.
22. May perform other related or non-related duties, as assigned.
COMPETENCIES
Ethics:
- Treats people with respect.
- Keeps commitments.
- Inspires the trust of others.
- Completes work ethically and with integrity.
- Upholds organizational values.
Judgment:
- Displays willingness to make decisions.
- Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
- Supports and explains reasoning for decisions.
- Includes appropriate people in decision-making process.
- Makes timely decisions.
- Demonstrates safety awareness.
Client Focus:
- Demonstrates a commitment to clinical excellence.
- Manages difficult or emotional client situations.
- Responds promptly to client needs.
- Includes clients, parents/guardians, teachers, and other service providers in the academic therapy process through regular communication. Solicits feedback to improve services.
- Responds to requests for service and assistance.
Planning/Organizing:
- Prioritizes and plans work activities.
- Uses time efficiently.
- Plans for additional resources.
- Sets measureable, client-focused goals and objectives and updates, as indicated.
- Develops realistic action plans.
- Maintains a neat and organized workspace.
Problem Solving:
- Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
- Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
- Develops alternative solutions.
- Works well in group problem-solving situations.
- Involves supervisor and relevant team members in the problem-solving process, as indicated.
- Uses reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.
Professionalism:
- Communicates with others in a tactful and professional manner.
- Participates appropriately as a member of a team.
- Responds well under pressure.
- Treats others with respect and consideration, regardless of their status or position.
- Accepts responsibility for own actions.
- Follows instructions and responds to supervisory direction and feedback appropriately.
- Completes tasks within established deadlines.
Quality:
- Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
- Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
- Applies feedback to improve performance.
- Monitors own work to ensure quality.
Written Communication:
- Writes professionally, informatively, and in accordance with payor source guidelines.
- Edits work for spelling and grammar.
- Varies writing style to meet needs.
- Presents numerical data effectively.
- Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret written information.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/ Certification:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in education or related field. Special Education background is preferred.
- Certification in dyslexia intervention and/or educational therapy is preferred.
Experience/ Knowledge required:
- One year of successful experience in a similar position or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Skills/ Abilities:
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people.
- Ability to work with children and adolescents.
- Ability to understand and interpret the data gathered in an assessment.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Basic computer skills, including a working knowledge of databases, word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet software.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks in a very busy environment.
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, policies, and other company documents.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standard situations.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
- Daily travel is required for this position; travel may include transporting students/clients.
- ACCESS drivers are required to maintain a valid Driver’s License, current auto liability insurance and registration, a clean driving record, and physical ability to drive to local locations throughout Arkansas.