State of Maryland

An Occupational Therapist III is the lead or advanced level of work providing occupational therapy treatments to mentally ill, aged, physically ill or physically disabled patients, or developmentally disabled clients/patients of State inpatient, residential or vocational rehabilitation treatment facilities or community-based programs in clinics, schools or home settings. At the Lead level, employees in this classification train and assign, review and approve the work of Occupational Therapists and may supervise Occupational Therapy Assistants and support staff. At the Advanced level, employees in this classification function as the sole Occupational Therapist responsible for providing all occupational therapy services in a State facility or local health department or work in a chronic facility with severely comprised or medically complex clients/patients.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Occupational Therapist Supervisor or other licensed healthcare professional. Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions and may be required to lift and move clients/ patients and equipment. Employees may be required to physically restrain patients/ clients displaying violent and aggressive behavior.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of a class specification.

The Occupational Therapist III is differentiated from Occupational Therapist II in that the Occupational Therapist III either performs duties as the sole occupational therapist responsible for providing all occupational therapy services in a State facility or local Health Department or trains and assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Occupational Therapists. The Occupational Therapist II performs the full range of duties under general supervision. The Occupational Therapist III is differentiated from the Occupational Therapist Supervisor in that the Occupational Therapist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Occupational Therapists.

When functioning at the Lead level:

Assesses, plans and implements clients’/patients’ occupational therapy treatment;

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Occupational Therapists and other assigned staff;

Trains lower-level Occupational Therapists in carrying out assignments;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Occupational Therapists in the resolution of complex issues involving patient/client treatment plans;

When functioning at the Advanced level:

Functions as the sole occupational therapist responsible for providing all occupational therapy services in a State facility or local health department;

Develops the policies and procedures for the administrative and clinical functions of an occupational therapy program for a State facility or local health department;

Prepares and monitors the occupational therapy program budget;

Collects all necessary data in order to develop treatment plans for patients/clients with unusual needs;

Determines additional training, education, literature and resources needed for facility and community-based staff in the area of occupational therapy;

In a chronic facility, works with severely comprised and medically complex patients/clients such as amputees, traumatic brain injuries and ventilator assisted patients or with multiple co-morbidities such as respiratory failure, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Stage IV wounds and multiple drug resistant infections;

Uses adaptive devices, prosthetics and related equipment;

May coordinate a functional maintenance program with health care workers to facilitate physical rehabilitation for patients/clients with speech and swallowing difficulties, impaired memory skills and other daily living activities;

Both Lead and Advanced levels:

Instructs individuals and groups in specific skills, such as social interaction, sensorimotor functions, basic tasks, grooming and hygiene, and independent daily living skills;

Studies, observes and records the reactions and progress of clients/patients;

Evaluates clients/patients in order to determine appropriate treatment or suitability of treatment of program;

Develops, provides or assists in clinical training of Occupational Therapy students;

Assesses the functional level of patients/clients;

Develops, and modifies occupational therapy programs based upon the needs of patients/clients;

Fits and instructs patients/clients in the use of orthotic and prosthetic devices;

Provides and instructs patients/clients in the use of adaptive devices and compensation techniques;

Provides occupational therapy training to other staff;

Orders supplies and equipment;

Completes evaluation, progress and statistical reports concerning patient/client progress;

May provide budget recommendations;

May be required to physically restrain patients/clients displaying violent aggressive behavior;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.   

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.