Occupational Therapist

Job Description

Job Description

Summary: The Stanley G. Falk School is one of the largest and most successful Special Education Day Schools in all of New York State. As the Teacher's Aide you will provide support to the teacher by assisting students in comprehending daily lessons, and provide direct support services to the Falk students and school.

The Stanley G. Falk School is seeking a compassionate, dynamic, and skilled Occupational Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will support students with fine and gross motor delays, sensory processing needs, and visual perceptual challenges to enhance academic engagement and school success. This position plays a vital role in fostering student independence and helping students access the curriculum through purposeful, individualized and group therapy.

As the Occupational Therapist, your day will include:

• Evaluates the student’s ability and formulates the student’s IEP goals through a variety of functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observation, histories, and interviews
• Complies evaluation results into a comprehensive written report which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational plan
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrates findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individual education plans and intervention plans to achieve IEP goals.
• Monitors and reassess the effects of occupational therapy interventions and the need to continue, modify, or discontinue the intervention
• Responds calmly and objectively in situations involving students with extreme/sustained behaviors

• Utilizes appropriate techniques of behavior management and crisis interventions as indicated in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention guidelines; implements strategies to address escalating behaviors, i.e. time-out, discussion, conflict resolution
• Assists administration with upholding and enforcing School rules, policies, and procedures
• Participates in continuous professional growth and development related to the field of occupational therapy
• Ensures the safety of students, self and others by supporting and following emergency procedures, i.e. code red; fire drills
• Remain after normal School hours to complete professional duties such as assessments, parent contact, and staffings, as needed
• Meets accepted standards of professional behavior, including a commitment to punctuality and attendance
• Attends all mandatory in-service training and regularly attends meetings at the request of the building principal
• Adheres to no smoking and/or tobacco use policy in all School buildings, School grounds and in School vehicles
• All other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an accredited Program (Masters Preferred).
• Licensed by the New York State Education Department
• Experience working with students with emotional or learning disabilities preferred.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team.
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Schools (TCI-S) certification (or willingness to complete training)
• Valid driver license preferred

Physical Requirements

• Standing, walking, climbing, stooping, kneeling, occasional lifting and/or moving more than 25 pounds
• Most work is indoors except when supervising students on field trips or outdoors on School grounds
• Physical activity requiring routine walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items
• Moderate physical activity with the ability to initiate or participate in physical interventions when necessary

Competitive Pay Rate of $36.77 per hour based on experience

Shift: Monday through Friday 7:35 AM – 2:35 PM

Some of the many benefits of working for the Stanley G Falk School:

-Paid holidays & school breaks

-Sick & Personal Time

-Health, dental and vision Insurance, with plan options

-Employer paid life insurance

-Health savings account with agency contributions quarterly

-Supplemental insurance: short-term disability, long-term disability

-Paid professional development

-Employee referral program

-403b with 4% contribution

-Work with an outstanding, supportive team!

-Mentor Program

-Annual wage increases, with average increases ranging from 2-9%

-Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

-Small class sizes (6 students with 1 teacher and 1 teacher aide)

Stanley G Falk is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Stanley G Falk provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Stanley G Falk complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.