OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Pittsburgh Public Schools; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 57,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Pittsburgh Public Schools is seeking an Occupational Therapist to evaluate and design treatment plans for students aged 3 to 21, aligning with IEP goals and district policies. You will supervise certified OT assistants and collaborate with the education team to support sensorimotor, visual-motor, and functional school activities.

The role involves traveling between schools within the Pittsburgh Board of Education district, with an itinerant caseload and responsibilities to document, communicate,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy is required.
• Familiarity with school-based occupational therapy guidelines.
• Proficient in documentation and IEP processes.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and design treatment plans for sensorimotor and visual-motor areas.
• Provide supervision to certified occupational therapy assistants.
• Execute and document OT services across multiple Pittsburgh schools.
• Collaborate with education team to support student goals.

Skills

Ethics compliance

Communication skills

Documentation skills

Driver's license preferred

Education

OT bachelor degree

AOTA-accredited program

Job description

POSITION TITLE

Occupational Therapist

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Occupational Therapist is directly supervised by the Special Education Program Officer and is responsible for evaluating and designing treatment plans to assist students in benefiting from their classroom/school program in the areas of sensorimotor status, visual motor skills, perceptual skills, self-care activities, environmental adaptations including equipment, and functional school mobility adhering to the appropriate state and federal programs. The students' ages range from 3 years to 21 years old.

The position of Occupational Therapist will oversee all certified occupational therapy assistants.

WORK MONTHS

10 Months

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assists students with improving, developing, or restoring functions impaired or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation.
2. Assists students with improving ability to perform tasks for independent functioning when functions are impaired or lost that impact school performance.
3. Assists students in preventing, through early intervention, initial or further impairment or loss of function.
4. Reviews available student medical records, and school records including a student's IEP and their annual goals.
5. Performs assessment and screenings of students' occupational performance areas and occupational performance components that are relevant to the students' functioning in school.
6. Participates in educational MDE and IEP processes for identification of students' strengths, needs, exceptionality, goals, objectives, and determination of service delivery requirements necessary for students to benefit from their educational programs.
7. Designs and implements occupational therapy intervention programs that fulfill the students' IEP (or the Service Agreement for students covered by Chapter 15 protections).
8. Assumes responsibility for ongoing management of the occupational therapy program including documentation, communication, record keeping, in service education, community coordination, and maintenance of supplies and equipment within the occupational therapy program.
9. Provides supervision to the certified occupational therapy assistant and other personnel who may be associated with the occupational therapy program.
10. Collaborates with members of the students' education team.
11. Provides treatment or consultation to assist students in benefiting from their classroom/school program in the areas of sensorimotor status, visual motor skills, perceptual skills, self-care activities, environmental adaptations including equipment, and functional school mobility.
12. Provides appropriate seating and positioning devices in order to maintain a functional posture for engagement in classroom activities.
13. Manages an itinerant caseload within the Pittsburgh Board of Education district including traveling between schools and treatment of children in all educational programs.
14. Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor in support of the department's or school’s goals and objectives and the District's mission and Superintendent's Priority Goals

EDUCATION REQUIRED

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Bachelor’s Degree program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association

CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE REQUIRED

• Valid Licensure and compliance as regulated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy and Licensure.
• Successful completion of the certification examination as administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy

For more information on Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Education Certification Requirements visit the PA Department of Education’s Certification Types and Codes webpage.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Varies on need of department

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Compliance with the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics from the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
• A thorough familiarity with American Occupational Therapy Association's Guidelines for Occupational Therapy Services in School Systems and the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association's Guidelines for Occupational Therapy Services in School Systems in also required.
• Computer skills and knowledge of word processing is a necessity. A valid PA Driver's license is preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are required, along with the ability to hear and read.
• Enthusiastic about the fundamental goal of advancing student achievement in an urban public school district.
• Value, demonstrate, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion .

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The working conditions and physical requirements described here are representative of, but not limited to, those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made.

• Varies based on needs of department

APPLICANT ELIGIBLE CRITERIA

External applicants and internal non-school-based professional employees who are properly certified are eligible to apply for this position. This job posting is not a component of the School-Based Professional Internal Transfer Season. Current Pittsburgh Public School employees who are school-based professionals (teachers, librarian, counselors, social workers, etc.) are not eligible to apply to this position.

CITY OF PITTSBURGH RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

This position does not have a residency requirement.

Position : 108130

Type : INTERNAL & EXTERNAL

Location : PSE-OT-OCCUPATNAL THERAPY SRVS

MINIMUM PER PAY RATE: $2,199.14-$2,199.14