PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

 

DEFINITION


 Under the direction of a supervisory officer in an institution or
 agency,  provides  program leadership, development,  coordination
 and  supervision  for  a  comprehensive occupational  therapy  or
 rehabilitation  therapy  program in  a  unit  or  section  of  an
 institution, agency or school; does other related duties.

 NOTE: The  examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes  only.  A particular position using this title  may  not
 perform all duties listed in this job specification.  Conversely,
 all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

 
EXAMPLES OF WORK:


 Identifies residents' or clients' needs for occupational  therapy
 services.

 Selects  or  develops  screening and  evaluation  procedures  for
 identifying focus and scope of residents' or clients' needs to be
 met through occupational or rehabilitation therapy services.

 Conducts needs assessments and interprets findings.

 Participates in the formulation and implementation of  a  program
 providing occupational therapy services.

 Assigns   personnel  and  resources  to  meet   occupational   or
 rehabilitation  services  program requirements,  in  consultation
 with designated supervisory personnel.

 Coordinates  the  use  of space, equipment and  material  of  the
 occupational  or rehabilitation therapy services program  in  the
 unit or section.

 Provides  referrals  to  occupational or  rehabilitation  therapy
 programs and other relevant services.

 Selects  or  designs  the  appropriate  evaluative  methods   and
 instruments for assessing the performance skills and deficits  of
 residents or clients.

 Provides  instruction to staff in the application  of  assessment
 instruments.

 Provides  assignments and instruction to staff in the development
 and implementation of individualized treatment and rehabilitation
 plans.

 Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has
 responsibility  for  employee  evaluations  and  for  effectively
 recommending  the  hiring,  firing,  promoting,  demoting  and/or
 disciplining of employees.

 Monitors   and   reviews   occupational  therapy   programs   for
 effectiveness.

 Conducts individual case reviews.

 Conducts occupational therapy programs for individual and groups.

 Serves  as  a  consultant to treatment teams and  other  clinical
 staff.

 Collaborates  with community agencies and resources to  initiate,
 develop  and/or utilize community activity-oriented services  and
 to provide continuity of service after discharge.

 Participates in staff training as assigned.

 Participates in lectures, workshops and orientation  sessions  on
 the principles and practices of occupational therapy.

 Prepares progress and other reports.

 Provides  information  needed  to  prepare  the  budget  for  the
 occupational therapy program.

 Will  be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or  manual  recording and information  systems  used  by  the
 agency, office or related units.

 May  be required to engage in lifting clients when working  in  a
 setting  which provides direct services to clients who  are  non-
 ambulant,  or  who are semi-ambulant and/or have severe  physical
 handicaps.

 REQUIREMENTS:

      LICENSE:

      Applicants   must  possess  a  license  as  an  Occupational
 Therapist  issued  by the Occupational Therapy Advisory  Council,
 Department of Law and Public Safety.

           EXPERIENCE:

           Three (3) years of experience in occupational therapy.

           LICENSE:

            Appointees  to positions in day training  centers  and
 other   educational  facilities  identified  by  the  New  Jersey
 Department   of  Education  will  be  required  to  possess   the
 appropriate  education certification issued  by  the  New  Jersey
 Department of Education.

      Appointee  will  be required to possess a  driver's  license
 valid  in  New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle,  rather
 than  employee  mobility, is necessary to perform  the  essential
 duties of the position.

      SPECIAL NOTE: Ability  to physically lift, move and position  clients  as
 needed.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge   of  the  principles,  practices  and  techniques   of
 occupational therapy.

 Knowledge  of  the  components  of a  comprehensive  occupational
 therapy services program.

 Knowledge of occupational therapy materials and equipment

 Knowledge  of  the  types  of maladjustments  and  the  types  of
 occupational therapy best suited.

 Ability  to provide instruction and supervision to rehabilitation
 and occupational therapy staff.

 Ability to coordinate available personnel and efficiently utilize
 available funds, equipment, supplies and space.

 Ability  to  plan  and  implement  a  program  of  patient  care,
 monitoring and utilization review.

 Ability  to  select and develop screening and evaluation  methods
 and instruments to determine needs and assess skills.

 Ability   to   establish   and   maintain   cooperative   working
 relationships with staff and others involved in the program.

 Ability   to   confer   and   collaborate   with   clinical   and
 administrative staff.

 Ability to prepare reports.

 Ability  to  establish and maintain a system  for  equipment  and
 supply monitoring and maintenance for a unit or section.

 Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.

 Ability  to  learn to utilize various types of electronic  and/or
 manual  recording  and information systems used  by  the  agency,
 office or related units.

 Ability  to  read,  write, speak, understand, or  communicate  in
 English  sufficiently  to perform the duties  of  this  position.
 American  Sign  Language or Braille may  also  be  considered  as
 acceptable forms of communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
 as  they  can  perform the essential functions of the  job  after
 reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.   If
 the  accommodation  cannot be made because  it  would  cause  the
 employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

 CODES: 25/S26 - 03674           MCK            9/23/00