Occupational Therapist – Early Childhood

Full-Time | Little Rock, Arkansas

ACCESS is seeking a full-time Occupational Therapist to join our Early Childhood team. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys helping young children build skills that support their development, independence, and success in everyday activities. The Occupational Therapist works closely with families, teachers, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to provide individualized services in the classroom and other functional settings.

POSITION PURPOSE

Provides occupational therapy services by evaluating and assessing clients, selecting appropriate interventions, and providing individualized treatment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & BASIC DUTIES

1. Administers and scores occupational therapy assessments and completes comprehensive evaluations at least annually.
2. Interprets evaluation results and completes a formal written report of findings within 10 working days following completion of the evaluation.
3. Refers clients for additional evaluations and/or services, as appropriate.
4. Develops individualized occupational therapy treatment plans that include measurable goals and objectives.
5. Reviews and updates each client’s treatment plan at least annually.
6. Provides occupational therapy services to identified clients, as indicated and/or prescribed. Documents explanations for missed sessions.
7. Identifies materials and equipment needed to provide appropriate treatment. If materials or equipment are not available, the therapist may create them or request them through their supervisor.
8. Provides therapy in the classroom and other functional settings, as appropriate, to assist each client with generalizing skills into their daily environment and routine.
9. Works closely and meets regularly with each client’s interdisciplinary team to collaborate, discuss, and resolve matters related to the client’s plan of care and progress toward identified goals and objectives.
10. Uses deTASO to document weekly therapy schedules, daily progress notes, and billing within designated timeframes.
11. Completes other documentation related to occupational therapy using deTASO or paper documentation, as appropriate.
12. Provides written communication or documents verbal conversations with parents or guardians regarding client progress at least every two weeks.
13. Completes written discharge summaries when a client is discharged from occupational therapy.
14. Attends and actively participates in job-related functions, including department and team meetings, parent conferences, peer reviews, workshops, and mandatory training.
15. Serves as a clinical educator for graduate students in occupational therapy programs, as indicated.
16. Manages assigned caseload to ensure clients’ needs and weekly productivity requirements are met.
17. Maintains familiarity with health and safety guidelines, including standard precautions and daily operating procedures.
18. Represents the program positively when interacting with parents, visitors, and the public.
19. Completes relevant and approved continuing professional education each year, as required to maintain professional licensure and other required standards.
20. Performs 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

• Demonstrates a willingness to make decisions.
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Supports and explains the reasoning behind decisions.
• Includes appropriate people in the 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 or guardians, teachers, and other service providers in the occupational therapy process through regular communication.
• Solicits feedback to improve services.
• Responds to requests for service and assistance.

Planning and Organization

• Prioritizes and plans work activities.
• Uses time efficiently.
• Plans for additional resources.
• Establishes measurable, client-focused goals and objectives and updates them 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 effectively.
• Demonstrates self-directed learning.
• Develops alternative solutions.
• Works well in group problem-solving situations.
• Involves the team leader and relevant team members in the problem-solving process, as indicated.
• Uses sound reasoning, even when addressing 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 their own actions.
• Follows instructions and responds appropriately to supervisory direction and feedback.
• Completes tasks within established deadlines.

Quality

• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
• Applies feedback to improve performance.
• Monitors their own work to ensure quality.

Written Communication

• Writes professionally and informatively in accordance with payer-source guidelines.
• Edits work for spelling and grammar.
• Adapts writing style to meet different needs.
• Presents numerical data effectively.
• Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret written information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to walk, sit, use their hands to handle or feel objects, and reach with their hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Education and Certification

• Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university.
• Current Arkansas license as an Occupational Therapist.
• Current certification through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Experience and Knowledge

• One year of experience working with the indicated client population is preferred but not required.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to work with children and adolescents.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Basic computer skills, including working knowledge of databases, word processing, spreadsheets, and internet software.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a busy environment.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, policies, and other organizational documents.
• Ability to write routine reports and professional correspondence.
• Ability to apply common-sense understanding when carrying out instructions provided in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to address problems involving several concrete variables in standard situations.