Occupational Therapist - Children's Behavioral Health Center

OU Health; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

OU Health is opening a new Pediatric Behavioral Health Center in December 2026. We seek an Occupational Therapist to evaluate, plan, and implement therapy across functional domains for pediatric patients.

Role requires MT/OT licensure in Oklahoma and BLS; start date after July 1, 2026. A strong emphasis on family education, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, and ongoing learning is expected.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent degree for foreign graduates.
• Current Oklahoma OT license required.
• Current Basic Life Support by American Heart Association required upon hire.
• 3+ years of experience required for Level II position.
• 5+ years of experience required for Level III position.

Responsibilities

• Interprets routine referrals and evaluates patients across domains (independence, occupational performance, prevocational skills, education, play/leisure, social, psychosocial).
• Develops and implements individualized treatment plans with regular progress assessment.
• Ensures compliance with applicable regulatory standards and best practices.
• Educates patients and families about condition, plan, and home management strategies.
• Collaborates with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
• Attends departmental meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Discharge planning

Information synthesis

Patient and caregiver communication

Integrity and trust

EMR and digital tools

Written and spoken communication

Independence and teamwork

Diversity and inclusion

Continuous learning

Education

Master’s or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Position Title:

Occupational Therapist - Children's Behavioral Health Center

Department:

Pediatric Rehab Services

Job Description:

Our NEW Pediatric Behavioral Health Center is scheduled to open in December 2026. Candidates applying for this position should expect a start date after July 1, 2026. All applicants must be 21 years of age or older and provide two professional references as part of the hiring process.

General Summary

Performs a range of Occupational Therapy services including evaluation, planning, and implementation of individualized treatment plans for patients across various functional domains.

Essential Responsibilities

Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.

• Interprets routine provider referrals and evaluates patients in areas such as independent living skills, occupational performance, prevocational work adjustment, educational skills, play‑leisure abilities, social skills, and psychosocial skills.
• Develops and implements individualized treatment plans with regular assessment of progress.
• Ensures compliance with system-wide, local, state, and federal regulatory requirements by applying relevant standards and best practices.
• Educates patients and their families about their condition, treatment plan, and strategies for home management.
• Collaborates with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
• Attends departmental meetings.

General Responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Level I Minimum Requirements

Education Requirements

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent degree for foreign graduates.

Experience Requirements

• No experience required.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current license from the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision as an Occupational Therapist required.
• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required upon hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Working knowledge of equipment, supplies, Home Exercise Programs (HEP), and discharge instructions to facilitate a safe discharge plan.
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and identify relevant clinical data.
• Communicates effectively with patients and caregivers, considering cultural and language needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain integrity and trust with patients by advocating in the patient’s best interest.
• Proficient in electronic documentation and digital tools (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office, cloud‑based platforms).
• Proficient written and oral communication skills characterized by candor, empathy, compassion, openness, integrity, and ability to be diplomatic.
• Demonstrates independence and teamwork while maintaining professionalism and civility.
• Promotes an inclusive workplace that values diversity and equity.
• Shows dedication to continuous learning through internal and external educational opportunities.

Level II Minimum Requirements

Education Requirements

• Master's or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent degree for foreign graduates.

Experience Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience required.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current license from the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision as an Occupational Therapist required.
• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required upon hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of equipment, supplies, Home Exercise Programs (HEP), and discharge instructions to facilitate a safe discharge plan.
• Synthesizes information from multiple sources, recognizing patterns and clinical complexities.
• Communicates effectively and compassionately with patients and caregivers, considering cultural and language needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain integrity and trust with patients by advocating in the patient’s best interest.
• Advanced proficiency in electronic documentation and digital tools (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office, cloud‑based platforms).
• Advanced written and oral communication skills characterized by candor, empathy, compassion, openness, integrity, and ability to be diplomatic.
• Demonstrates autonomy and effective teamwork while maintaining professionalism and civility.
• Champions diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Shows dedication to continuous learning through internal and external educational opportunities.
• Applies clinical knowledge and skills autonomously across multiple areas of practice, consistently demonstrating efficiency, adaptability, and sound clinical judgment in diverse healthcare settings.

Level III Minimum Requirements

Education Requirements

• Master's or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent degree for foreign graduates.

Experience Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience required.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current license from the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision as an Occupational Therapist required.
• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required upon hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Expert knowledge of equipment, supplies, Home Exercise Programs (HEP), and discharge instructions to facilitate a safe discharge plan.
• Integrates and synthesizes information from diverse sources, recognizing patterns and clinical nuances.
• Demonstrates expert communication skills, adapting to cultural and linguistic needs of patients and families.
• Ability to establish and maintain integrity and trust with patients by advocating in the patient’s best interest.
• Expert proficiency in electronic documentation and digital tools (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office, cloud‑based platforms).
• Expert written and oral communication skills characterized by candor, empathy, compassion, openness, integrity, and ability to be diplomatic.
• Functions independently and leads within interdisciplinary teams while fostering a collaborative environment.
• Leads efforts to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Shows dedication to continuous learning through internal and external educational opportunities.
• Applies advanced clinical knowledge and judgment across diverse settings, consistently demonstrating leadership, adaptability, and excellence in care delivery.

OU Health is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, 401(k), medical and dental plans, and many more. We know that a total benefits and compensation package, designed to meet your specific needs both inside and outside of the work environment, create peace of mind for you and your family.