Pediatric Occupational Therapist

The Emerge Center; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

HSA

401k with employer matching

Guardian ancillary benefits

Paid holidays

PTO

CEU hours

Promotion path

Job summary

The Emerge Center in Baton Rouge, LA seeks a motivated Occupational Therapist (PT/FT) to join our pediatric team. You will evaluate children, develop treatment plans, and promote independence in daily living skills and activities.

The role emphasizes family involvement, education, and collaborative care with the OT team and other clinicians. We offer growth opportunities, CEU hours, and a clear promotion path within our OT level system, plus a comprehensive benefits package including Medical,

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy or grandfathered BS in OT.
• Current Louisiana OT license.
• Pediatric affiliation/internship or pediatric experience preferred.
• CPR certification or obtain within 3 months.
• Able to lift and transfer children 25–100 lbs.
• Experience with pediatric activities and floor interactions.
• Proficient with EHR, Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Perform evaluations and interpret test results to guide therapy plans.
• Develop treatment plans addressing child development, motor skills, sensory processing and daily living activities.
• Design and implement therapy to promote independence in ADLs, play and productive activities.
• Identify adaptive equipment needs and educate families on use.
• Maintain progress notes, billing documentation and discharge reports.
• Collaborate with OT team, therapists and families; participate in team conferences.
• Engage in community education programs and stay current with pediatric OT practices.
• Support strategic planning for OT programs and participate in ongoing professional development.
• Perform other duties as required by the Director of OT and Clinical Director/CEO.

Skills

Pediatric OT

Evaluations

Family collaboration

Documentation

Team collaboration

Continuing education

ADL training

Education

Master of Science in OT

Louisiana OT license

Pediatric affiliation/internship

CPR certification

Tools

EHR

Word

Excel

Job description

The Emerge Center and The Emerge School for Autism are looking for a motivated and passionate Occupational Therapist (part‑time or full‑time positions available). We strongly believe in investing into growth opportunities and offer both CEU hours and a clear path for promotions through the OT level system. Emerge offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, 401k with employer matching, ancillary benefits with Guardian, and paid holidays + PTO. If this opportunity interests you, we look forward to speaking with you!

Job Family:

Therapeutic Services

Supervisor:

Director of Occupational Therapy

Direct Reports:

Non-technical personnel, COTA (assigned to a client as needed)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluations - Perform assessments and interpret test results; determine occupational therapy treatment plans in consultation with the family/caregiver to increase independence in the client's functional activities of daily living.
• Professional Knowledge - Knowledge and skill to develop treatment plans that address but are not limited to the following: child development, muscle tone, range of motion, orthopedic/splinting needs, movement analysis, visual motor skills, visual perceptual skills, sensory-motor processing, neuromuscular skills, social skills, functional skills, and activities of daily living.
• Treatment - Promotes independence by selecting and constructing therapies according to the individual's physical capacity, intelligence level, and interest.
  • Identify and facilitate the client in the engagement of meaningful and healthy occupations
  • Develop, improve, sustain, or restore skills in activities of daily living (ADL), work or productive activities, and play or leisure
  • Develop, remediate, or restore sensorimotor, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance
  • Assess, recommend, and educate on adaptive equipment and its use.
  • Manage behaviors/maladaptive responses and seek outside assistance with problem areas from the Director of OT and/or BCBAs as needed.
  • Provide occupational therapy services to patients enrolled at the Emerge Center and/or Emerge School for Autism
• Education - Assures continuation of a therapeutic plan by designing and instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs; assistive technology, and other resources.
• Communication - Maintain communication with parents and physicians through progress reports or other communication measures.
  • Participate in parent/family conferences
  • Participate in team conferences
• Documentation - Responsible for timely documentation of evaluation results, daily notes, billing, progress notes, discharge reports, attendance reports, insurance authorizations, and justification as needed.
• Collaboration - Participate and facilitate department staff meetings as well as department programs.
• Outreach - Participate in community education programs that focus on issues relating to the needs of clients and occupational therapy.
• Professional Development - Maintain professional clinical competency by attending continuing education and workshops in the areas of pediatrics.
• Assist in developing strategic and long-range plans for the OT program and other programs established by The Emerge Center.
• Perform any other duties deemed necessary by the Director of OT services and the Clinical Director/CEO.
• Adhere to agency safety policy and procedures, values, and attitudes of The Emerge Center to ensure its ability to obtain its mission.

Qualifications:

• Master of Science Degree from a college or university having an accredited school of occupational therapy or grandfathered BS.
• Current license by the State of Louisiana.
• Completion of pediatric affiliation/internship or pediatric experience preferred.
• Current CPR or obtain within 3 months.
• Lift and transfer children (25-100 lbs).
• Participate in handling and floor activities with children.
• Working knowledge and use of assessment tools used to evaluate children.
• Computer experience preferred especially EHR, Word, and Excel.

Experience:

• New grad welcome.
• Pediatric experience.

Prior Knowledge:

• Therapeutic use of meaningful and purposeful occupations.
• Therapeutic use of self.
• Adaptation of environments and processes to enhance functional performance in occupations.
• Promotion of health and wellness through engagement in valued occupations.
• Graded tasks and activities as prerequisites to engagement in occupations.
• Design, fabrication, application, or training in the use of assistive technology or orthotic devices.
• Application of physical agent modalities as an adjunct to or in preparation for engagement in occupations.
• Sensory motor processing techniques.
• Neuromuscular re-education.
• Feeding therapy and oral motor training/retraining.

Team Work:

• Collaborate with OT department.
• Collaborate with therapeutic teams within Emerge.
• Engage families as team members in the care of their child.

Essential Job Functions:

• Spend considerable time stooping, kneeling, and crouching.
• Assist with patient transfers and lifts or help them turn, stand, or walk.
• Must follow proper body mechanics and procedures for lifting/moving patients.
• Ability to lift/move fifty (50) pounds.
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Fine motor skills.
• Visual acuity.
• Must pass state and federal background checks.
• Must pass a drug test.