Pre-K Occupational Therapist - Waterville

ServingSchools; Waterville (ME); On-site; USD 41,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Maine State Employee Medical coverage

Dental and Vision Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

$250 per year Professional Development

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Paid vacation

Paid sick time

Paid holidays

Job summary

CDS PEDS in Waterville, ME seeks a Pediatric Occupational Therapist to work with preschoolers ages 3-5 within a team-based setting. The role is 40 hours weekly during the academic year, with travel to multiple sites in central Maine as needed.

The therapist conducts evaluations, provides therapy, and helps develop IFSP/IEP goals in compliance with IDEA. Strong collaboration with multidisciplinary staff is essential.

Qualifications

• State license in Maine as Occupational Therapist.
• Certificate of Clinical Community (CCC).
• Successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting and reference check.
• Experience with preschool population preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and provide OT services to birth-5 children.
• Collaborate with IFSP/IEP team to develop goals.
• Document services to meet MaineCare and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate with CDS case managers and parents.

Skills

Child development

Disabilities

Family systems

Special education

Communication

Team collaboration

Travel required

Child motivation

Interpersonal skills

Education

Maine OT license

CCC - Certification

Background check

Job description

Early Childhood Occupational Therapist

The CDS PEDS site in Waterville is seeking qualified, dedicated pediatric Occupational Therapists to work with preschool children with disabilities ages 3-5. These are a 40 hour per week, academic year positions in the Central Maine area. Travel is required. Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and the preschool population is preferred.

Salary Range

Academic: $40,537 - $70,278

Some benefits of CDS employment

• Maine State Employee Medical coverage
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• $250 per year Professional Development Stipend
• Maine State Employee Living Resources Program (Employee Assistance)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
• Work/Life Balance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Time
  • Paid Holidays
  • Great coworkers, and the satisfaction of helping kids who really need you!

Summary Description

The therapist works as a part of a team of colleagues to evaluate and provide treatment services to children. The therapist, a member of the IFSP/IEP team, evaluates and provides services to eligible children birth through 5 and ensures that services meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 as set forth in the Maine Department of Education Regulation Chapter 101.

Representative Tasks

Parent Communication

• Ensures that the therapist’s role within Child Find process is explained to parents.
• Ensures that intake information is elaborated upon and elicits additional information from parents.
• Ensures that parents receive answers to their questions.
• Ensures that parents receive accurate information in a timely manner.
• Specific to the occupational therapy domain, ensures that parents receive accurate explanations of the results of the child’s assessment.

Evaluation and Assessment

• Establishes rapport with children served.
• Conducts observations outside in the child’s natural environment or LRE setting, as ordered by the IFSP/IEP team.
• Gathers and reviews documentation specific to the child’s developmental history.
• Conducts interviews with parents to obtain information when specific to the child’s required developmental history and selects and administers assessment and other evaluation materials that are non-discriminatory as ordered by the IFSP/IEP team.
• Determines the child’s level of functioning and expresses that in a summary of evaluation results and diagnostic impressions in an evaluation report provided for the IFSP/IEP team.

Recordkeeping and Report Writing

• Ensures that the written evaluation that comports with Chapter 101 is completed in a timely manner.
• Contributes goals to the IFSP/IEP team and short term objectives where appropriate.
• Writes and maintains required reports for therapy to meet MaineCare and other regulatory requirements.

IFSP/IEP Team Participation

• Ensures that evaluation findings are reported to the IFSP/IEP team.
• Assists the IFSP/IEP team with goal development based upon assessment results.

Early Intervention or Special Education and Related Services

• Provides occupational therapy services as specified by the IFSP/IEP.
• Communicates with CDS Case Managers and other providers through the course of a child’s IFSP/IEP.

Billing Documentation (Insurance and MaineCare)

• Requests prescriptions and authorizations for referrals as required by CDS.
• Ensures proper billing to third parties, in accordance with CDS practice.
• Enters case logs and records services in accordance with CINC requirements.

Other

• Any other appropriate duties the Site Director deems necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• State of Maine Occupational Therapist License
• Certificate of Clinical Competence
• Successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting and reference check

Required Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Working knowledge of child development, disabilities, family systems, and special education methods
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of people
• Ability to provide individual and group services in a variety of settings and models
• Ability to establish an effective rapport/relationship with children and parents
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an early childhood team
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Ability to adapt therapy techniques to varying personalities and environments
• Ability to travel to a variety of locations to deliver services
• Ability to treat and motivate young children

Veterans’ Preference: Maine law provides a preference to qualified veterans and gold star spouses by ensuring they are offered an interview. If you are a veteran or a gold star spouse and wish to take advantage of this preference, please complete our employment application. Documentation is required. For more information, visit: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/veterans-preference-in-job-applications.

CDS PEDS 325e Kennedy Memorial Drive Waterville, ME 04901

This posting is being offered by an equal opportunity employer.

Child Development Services serves the early intervention and special education needs of Maine's children birth to age five. We have over 350 employees, a large network of contracted providers and currently serve over 3,500 children ages 0 to 5 years.

CDS consists of 10 principal sites throughout Maine with several satellite offices