Job Description

Job Description

The OT works as part of a multidisciplinary pediatric rehabilitation team to develop individualized, evidence-based intervention plans that support the child’s participation in self-care, play, learning, mobility and daily routines across home, educational and community environments.

The role includes management of children with complex conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, ADHD and other pediatric conditions. Intervention may include upper-limb function, fine motor and visual-motor skills, sensory processing, activities of daily living, positioning, seating, splinting, assistive technology and environmental adaptation according to the individual needs of the child.

The therapist collaborates closely with families, caregivers, educators, physicians and the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team to ensure coordinated, family-centered care and consistency of therapeutic strategies across the child’s environments. Services are delivered in accordance with Department of Health (DOH) requirements, organizational policies and procedures, and the professional scope of practice for Occupational Therapy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive, age-appropriate occupational therapy assessments for children with developmental, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and developmental delay.
• Assess the child’s functional performance and participation in self-care, play, learning and daily routines, considering motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and environmental factors.
• Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans with measurable functional goals that promote independence, participation and quality of life across home, educational and community environments.
• Use standardized pediatric assessments, clinical and play-based observation, caregiver and educator interviews and functional outcome measures appropriate to the child’s age, diagnosis and needs.
• Assess and address fine motor, gross motor participation, visual-motor integration, visual-perceptual skills, upper-limb function, bilateral coordination, motor planning and functional hand use within the occupational therapy scope of practice.
• Assess sensory processing and regulation needs and implement appropriate evidence-based sensory-motor strategies to support participation, attention and engagement in daily activities.
• Assess functional independence in age-appropriate activities of daily living, including dressing, grooming, feeding, toileting and other self-care tasks, and provide graded interventions and adaptive strategies as indicated.
• Assess seating, positioning and postural support needs and recommend appropriate wheelchairs, seating systems, positioning aids, splints, orthoses, adaptive equipment and assistive technology within professional scope and competency.
• Fabricate or prescribe splints and other occupational therapy devices where clinically indicated, and provide training to children, families and caregivers in their safe and effective use.
• Work collaboratively with Physicians, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Psychology, educators, inclusion teams and other relevant professionals to support coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, goal setting and intervention.
• Observe children within their educational or functional environments, where appropriate, to identify barriers to participation, learning, self-care and independence and recommend practical strategies, adaptive equipment and environmental modifications.
• Collaborate with educators, inclusion teams and learning support staff to integrate therapeutic recommendations, positioning, sensory strategies and functional adaptations into the child’s daily routines and learning environment.
• Provide family-centered care and actively involve parents and caregivers in goal setting, home programs, caregiver education and carry-over of therapeutic strategies.
• Provide caregiver and educator training on positioning, handling, self-care strategies, sensory regulation, adaptive techniques, equipment use and environmental modifications to promote consistent carry-over across the child’s environments.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, progress reviews, care planning and discharge or transition planning, providing relevant clinical recommendations and progress updates within consent and confidentiality requirements.
• Monitor progress using appropriate pediatric outcome measures and revise intervention plans according to clinical findings, functional progress, family feedback and multidisciplinary recommendations.
• Maintain timely, accurate and comprehensive documentation of assessments, treatment sessions, progress, communication, cancellations, reports, equipment recommendations and discharge planning in accordance with legal, professional and organizational requirements.
• Identify developmental, safeguarding or clinical concerns and escalate or refer appropriately in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

Qualifications