Cert. Occupational Therapist Asst. - Nursing Home jobs in Connecticut

CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Occupational Therapist in planning, directing, and administering the Occupational Therapy Services in the facility in accordance with current applicable federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the highest degree of quality resident care can be maintained at all times.

Delegation of Authority

As a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Occupational Therapist in the planning, development, organization, evaluation, and directing of occupational therapy activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the health care facility.

• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning therapy services.

• Assist in developing and maintaining occupational therapy standards as directed.

• Maintain departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control.

• Interpret occupational therapy policies and procedures to personnel, residents, family members, etc., as necessary.

• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of resident care plans, resident assessments, etc., as necessary.

• Assist in instructing resident and family members in home programs as well as care and use of adaptive equipment.

• Assist in maintaining files of residents receiving occupational therapy.

• Maintain treatment records, resident files, and progress notes as required.

• Work with facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.

• Ensure business office receives charges for therapy services rendered to residents.

• Maintain an adequate liaison with families and residents.

• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Team Leader.

Committee Functions

• Serve on, participate in, and/or attend various committees of the facility as appropriate.

• Provide written and/or oral reports of the O.T. programs and activities as required.

• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to O.T. services.

Personnel Functions

• Provide guidance and training for new and/or less experienced personnel.

• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.

• Participate in O.T. student program

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the department.

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.

• Coordinate O.T. With other departments.

• Meet with and solicit advice from other departments concerning O.T., assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or the improvement of services.

Therapy Functions

• Assist the O.T.R interviewing residents to determine daily living skill capacities, extent of abilities and limitations .

• Assist in determining appropriate treatment, selecting activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.

• Participate in the development and implementation of resident assessments (MDS) and care plans, including quarterly and annual reviews as directed by OTR.

• Assist in scheduling therapy services.

• Assist occupational therapist in therapy activities.

• Brief resident on procedures involved in occupational therapy and prepare necessary equipment.

• Assist in transporting resident to and from occupational therapy room/area.

• Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel, as necessary, the procedures involved in the treatment process.

• Perform occupational therapy in the resident's room if necessary.

• Reassure resident before and during therapy session.

• Prepare resident for treatment by dress/position and administer occupational therapy in accordance with established policies and procedures reflective of COTA/L Practice Act.

• Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.

• Assist in designing and adapting equipment and living environment.

• Teach basic living skills to residents as necessary.

• Promote participation in individual and group recreational activities as appriaoate

• Recommend modifications and changes in the resident's therapy treatment as indicated.

• Ensure that all therapists' notes are informative and descriptive of the care provided and of the resident's response to the care.

• Review request for O.T. and physicians orders.

Staff Development

• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, etc., to keep abreast of current changes in your field, as well as to build skills and enhance growth and development.

• Participate in departmental studies and projects as assigned or that may become necessary.

• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.

• Develop and participate in programs for in-service education, on the job training and orientation classes for newly assigned personnel. (includes maintaining appropriate record keeping requirements of subject matter.)

• Maintain state licensure standards.

Safety and Sanitation

• Be knowledgeable of safety standards for the occupational therapy department.

• Follow established departmental polices and procedures at all times, including appropriate dress code.

• Be alert for resident safety during any/all therapy.

• Comply with the facility’s established safety precautions at all times.

• Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.

• Assist in identifying departmental procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.

• Follow established infection control procedures and universal precautions when performing duties.

• Ensure that the therapy area is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained to perform such duties/services.

• Follow reporting procedures when observing any hazardous conditions or equipment.

• Wear personal protective clothing when performing services that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids. White lab coat required.

• Report missing/illegible labels or MSDSs to your supervisor.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Provide necessary material/equipment for resident to perform required therapy.

• Assist with the care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies.

• Report any inventory, equipment, or supply needs to department supervisor.

• Utilize all department equipment and supplies in an efficient manner that promotes desired therapy outcomes and minimizes waste.

• Operate occupational therapy equipment in a safe manner.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Ensure that occupational therapy activities and procedures are those indicated in the care plan for the resident. Advise OTR of any need to adjust therapy plan to match or support stated care plan goals.

• Assist and participate in resident assessment activities as necessary.

• Assist, as necessary, in developing occupational therapy plans for individual residents in coordination and conjunction with the resident assessment (MDS).

• Ensure that care plans indicate occupational therapy when such therapy is ordered.

Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

• Ensure that resident's rights to fair and equitable treatment, self determination, individuality, privacy, property and civil rights, including the right to wage a complaint, are well established and maintained at all times.

• Treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.

• Knock before entering the resident's room.

• Be knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.

• Honor the resident's refusal of treatment request. Report such action to your supervisor.

• Abide by the resident's participation in treatment decision.

• Inform the resident of consequences of not participating in prescribed therapy and document such action in the resident's clinical record.

• Report any complaints or grievances to the department supervisor.

• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.

• Encourage and promote resident’s participation in the planning and scheduling of his or her treatment.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas, therapy rooms, resident rooms, etc.

• Moves intermittently during working hours.

• Is subject to frequent interruptions.

• Is involved with physicians, residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.

• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.

• Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary, as well as in other positions as needed.

• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).

• Must be constantly alert for resident safety.

• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs as may be required by current regulations.

• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, assaults from hostile residents, etc., throughout the work day, as well as reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants..

• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

• Is subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

• Is subject to lifting, carrying and supporting residents.

• Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, other departments, etc., to adequately plan for the resident's occupational therapy needs.

Education Requirements

Must possess an Associate degree from an accredited program conferring the title of Occupational Therapist Assistant.

Experience

Must have, as a minimum, 3 year (s) of experience in a therapist capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other related medical facility.

Must have training in rehabilitative and restorative therapy practices.

Specific Requirements

Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant in this state.

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

Must be knowledgeable of occupational therapy procedures.

Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc., of the occupational therapy service under the advice of the OTR

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