Job Description

Class Title: Occupational Therapist

Reports to: Director of Special Education/Pupil Personnel Services

South San Francisco Unified School District

The South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) community includes 15 schools supporting 8,000 students in Daly City, San Bruno, and South San Francisco.

Our mission is that in partnership with our community, SSFUSD will provide exceptional instruction, engaging experiences, and equitable and accessible opportunities and resources to further support our diverse student body so that students are equipped to learn, thrive, navigate their future with purpose, and impact their community.

In February 2024, the School Board for SSFUSD adopted our new Vision and Five-Year Strategic Plan. Educators are at the heart of our priorities - exceptional instruction, engaged students, purposeful partnerships, empowered educators, and equity-centered systems.

The Role

SSFUSD is seeking a dynamic, equity-focused, and inclusive Occupational Therapist to join our school community. SSFUSD refuses to accept that the educational outcomes of students in our district are overwhelmingly predictable based on students race, socioeconomics, ethnicity or learning differences. We remain committed to working each day to examine systemic, institutional, and individual biases in order to dismantle systems of inequities that will enable all students to thrive.

Under the direction of the Director of Special Education/Pupil Personnel Services, the Occupational Therapist will provide educationally related occupational therapy assessments, services, as well as consultation to students with various disabilities in accordance with the students Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Occupational Therapist collaborates as a member of the educational team and is expected to handle a variety of assignments that relate to individual students specialized needs and related disabilities. They are expected to work independently with the students on a one-to-one basis, or in a group or classroom setting. The occupational therapist has a broad scope of evaluative tasks in the development, planning and assessment of therapy programs.

As an Occupational Therapist in SSFUSD, responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assessing students abilities and performance in activities that are related to the curriculum and applicable to activities of daily living.
• Administering complete educationally related assessments and reassessment including the interpretation of the developmental history, classroom or playground observations, records review, standardized testing, and non-standardized testing in the areas of suspected disability; interpreting results, providing a comprehensive written report, presenting findings, and offering appropriate intervention strategies at the IEP meeting.
• Identifying and documenting students educational/developmental/functional needs with the IEP team.
• Developing, coordinating and implementing occupational therapy intervention plans that support the IEP goals and objectives; providing appropriate training to parents to help support growth on goals.
• Assisting with the development of students transition plans, programs and goals.
• Recording assessments, actions taken and recommendations made regarding areas of service as required by law, board policies, administrative regulations and the Special Education Department.
• Scheduling, planning and providing occupational therapy programs for students with physical limitations, orthopedic impairments and/or other areas of concern for the purpose of aiding the students physical rehabilitation in accordance with IEP goals.
• Recommending, designing and creating adaptive equipment.
• Training and serving as a consultant to program staff in areas such as sensory motor, sensory stimulation and body awareness, fine motor and gross motor skills and other areas within the therapists area of expertise.
• Demonstrating appropriate activities for students to program staff.
• Participating effectively in the multidisciplinary IEP team process and working effectively with the instructional team, parents and community members, and functioning as a positive, contributing member of the educational team.
• Providing consultative services to parents, students, teachers and program staff in implementing the students IEP.
• Responding to inquiries and concerns which arise from parents, students, teachers and staff.
• Maintaining a schedule to meet the caseload requirements, developing procedures, reporting forms and records to manage the program and comply with educational standards.
• Conducting training programs for district personnel on the role of occupational therapy as an educational service, normal sensory-motor development as related to learning, and identification of sensory-motor deficits.
• Additional duties as assigned

Working Conditions

• Environment:
• Office environment.
• Constant interruptions.
• Physical Demands:
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard.
• Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone.
• Seeing to read a variety of materials.
• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
• Bending at the waist, kneeling or crouching to file materials.
• Reaching overhead and above shoulders to retrieve materials.

Requirements

• Education And Experience:
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to:
• Graduation from an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association; and
• Registration by the American Occupational Therapy Association certifying clinical competence as a Registered Occupational Therapist;
• Experience working with students with a variety of disabilities and in an educational setting is preferred.
• Licenses And Other Requirements:
• Valid California drivers license needed to drive a vehicle to conduct work
• Valid CPR and First Aid certification.
• Knowledge Of:
• Child development, neuromuscular function/dysfunction, sensory motor integration, kinesiology, skeletal anatomy and basic pathology related to orthopedic disabilities.
• Individual and group occupational therapy techniques commonly used for students with special needs.
• Occupational Therapy techniques commonly used with students with sensory processing disorders to allow them to gain access to their curriculum
• Typical growth and development of children
• Teaching students the fundamentals of self-care and other functional school based activities
• The construction and use of assistive devices, special toys, and equipment suitable for school and home use
• Principles, methods and equipment used in occupational therapy.
• Educational and medical applications of adaptive equipment.
• Health regulations and safe working methods and procedures
• Proper lifting techniques and how to train others to do so.
• Case management principles.
• Record keeping practices and procedures.
• Ability To:
• Develop, plan and implement an educationally related occupational therapy program for students with various disabilities.
• Assess individual students and develop appropriate intervention which includes goals/objectives of the IEP team.
• Explain and provide training on occupational therapy and how educational assistance is provided.
• Provide consultation to general and special education staff, parents and students.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents, students, staff and community agencies.
• Plan and organize work.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Work confidentially with discretion.
• Respond to questions, inquiries and complaints from parents, teachers, students, and representatives from other school districts
• Explain process and procedures as they apply to the occupational therapy program
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Lift, push and pull up to thirty-five (35) points frequently and fifty (50) pounds occasionally
• Exhibit full range of motion for shoulder external and internal rotation, shoulder abduction and adduction, elbow, shoulder, and hip flexion and extension, back lateral flexion, and knee flexion.

Application Requirements

• Updated resume
• Transcripts showing proof of graduation from an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes only. Official transcripts will be required if you are extended an offer to work in the district.
• Proof of registration by the American Occupational Therapy Association certifying clinical competence as a Registered Occupational Therapist
• Proof of First Aid and CPR certification

Please note that if you are extended an offer from SSFUSD, you will also need to complete the following prior to beginning work, including training:

• Provide clearance of TB test, as mandated by California Education code.
• Submit fingerprints for California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance.

*Please note that this job description is subject to Board review. The details are subject to change upon approval.

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