County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direction, to provide occupational therapy services in public schools for the physical treatment of children with physical disabilities; to advise parents or caregivers on home treatment and care; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Medical Therapy Program involves the long-term treatment of children with physical disabilities under 21 years of age and, therefore, requires the therapist to continually adapt and change the therapeutic regimen to the maturational development of the client, as well as his progress. This requires knowledge of child development and growth, especially in children with physical disabilities, in order to plan an appropriate program and properly evaluate what progress in the child was due to growth and development and what was due to therapy.

Therapists in the Medical Therapy Program work under medical direction and receive supervision from a supervising therapist in terms of assignment, consultation and evaluation of work. They generally work in school settings and coordinate their activity with the school program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Participates in clinics for children with physical disabilities; tests and evaluates the physical capacity of children in areas of basic motor skills and functional daily living activity as in feeding, dressing and personal hygiene; discusses care with physicians and plans individual occupational therapy regimens, including goals and objectives, to carry out physician's prescriptions and recommendations.
2. Teaches children self-care, emphasizing muscle re-education, relaxation, balance and coordination in such areas as feeding, dressing, writing, personal hygiene and other activities of daily living; helps the child through well-directed activity to develop this maximum proficiency in reaching, grasping and other movements involved in environmental control and manipulation.
3. Administers therapeutic exercises either directly, by the use of such equipment as finger pulleys and weights or through adapted activities such as arts and crafts; improves mouth and lip control, involving such activities as lip closure, nasal breathing, biting, blowing, sucking and swallowing and straw drinking in pre-feeding training.

4. Devises, develops and makes (using hand and power tools) both general and client oriented apparatus for exercising, reading, feeding, dressing and other activities involved in environmental control and the improvement of muscular and neural function; constructs, fits and adjusts hand splint and arm braces.
5. Tests and evaluates children's progress according to CCS guidelines determining progress due to therapy and what may be attributed to development, confers with supervisors and physician and adapts therapeutic regimen accordingly; coordinates activity with that of the physical therapists, teachers and others in the Medical Therapy Program.
6. Keeps clinical records of cases, including evaluations, treatments and progress and prepares regular reports on clients and workload; attends and participates in staff conferences with physical therapists, physicians, nurse case managers and others in the program; may be assigned to train and supervise interns or occupational therapy students.
7. Discusses child's problems with parents/caregivers, instructs them in the use of special equipment and a home treatment program; instructs parents or other persons caring for children in appropriate techniques.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Special Requirement:

Eligibility for or possession of a valid certificate to practice as a licensed Occupational Therapists from the California Board of Occupational Therapy.

And
Education:

Completion of an accredited course in Occupational Therapy.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, equipment and the basic theory of physical rehabilitation involved in the modern practice of occupational therapy, especially as applied to children with physical disabilities.
• Anatomy and physiology of the skeletal, muscular, neural and other structures and the pathologies and injuries which result in physical disabilities.
• Equipment and methods used to evaluate and mitigate such handicaps.
• Principles of psychology and abnormal psychology, especially as they related to the application of occupational therapy in Medical Therapy Program.
• Arts and crafts, recreational activities, physical training, therapeutic devices and other means which are used to effect rehabilitation through a program of occupational therapy.
• Growth and development of children in general and children with physical disabilities in particular.

Ability to:

• Understand and follow physician's prescriptions and other technical instructions.
• Instruct and gain the confidence and cooperation of clients and their families in the program .
• Explain the procedures used to personnel of other departments, to relatives and to others as may be required to achieve cooperation and coordination of the rehabilitation effort.
• Devise, improve and develop equipment and techniques as required.
• Keep accurate records, case histories and make complete meaningful reports.
• Instruct parents/caregivers and school personnel in home/school programs.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TAT:Lm-h
Revised: 6/83
Retyped: 1/85
Old document: 0566h
New document: Jobspecs/5850
ys/7/01
CSC Date: 7/20/83
DRH:po Revised/Retitled 8/17/05
old title: [Cerebral Palsy Therapist (Occupational)
CSC Date: 1/30/2008

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.