Pediatric Occupational Therapist

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, please apply at emergela.org. 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

Required

• Preferred
• Qualification

• 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.
• OTs move heavy equipment.
• 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.