ABOUT THE ROLE
A pediatric occupational therapist is an occupational therapist who focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to grow into functional, independent adults. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:
Assessing, planing, implementing and evaluating treatment plans in hospital and community settings
Establishing realistic goals for children to meet in order to improve their physical, mental and social health
Liaising with other healthcare professionals and with the patients’ families, teachers, carers and employers
Keeping patient records written and up-to-date
Writing reports and care plans and attend multidisciplinary case meetings to plan and review ongoing treatment
Referring patients to other specialists where needed
Organize support and rehabilitation groups for carers and patients
Training new students and supervising the work of occupational therapy assistants
Completing administrative tasks such as patient and budgetary records.
Qualifications
Occupational therapists will need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as biology and physiology. A master’s degree in occupational therapy allows aspiring occupational therapists to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, part of the American Occupational Therapy Association. To get a place on an accredit program, you should aim to have experience working in an occupational setting.
Occupational therapists can then take further training to specialize in pediatrics.
Skills and relevant work experience
As well as having the physical stamina to be on their feet all day, pediatric occupational therapists need skills such as:
Problem solving skills, as pediatric occupational therapists will have to help children solve the problems and overcome issues with treatment program.
Patience, as working with children with illness and disease can be a slow and frustrating process, especially when they are being difficult
Compassion and empathy, as working with children requires a deep understanding of their needs and concerns
Communication skills, as pediatric occupational therapists will need to communicate their ideas to patients and keep written documents up to date
Adaptability, as pediatric occupational therapists will need to be flexible when treating patients because patients will respond differently to different therapies
Requirements
Degree in occupational therapy from a university certified by the ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) or AOTA (American -Occupational Therapy Association).
Certified by the National Board for Certification.
Compliant with state healthcare regulatory requirements.
Possess up-to-date knowledge of treatment practices and therapy programs.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to take care of clients with different personalities.
Comfortable using a computer for various tasks.
Ability to assess patient conditions and work with treatment plans.
About the Company
Sensitivity and receptivity to client and family individual needs
Strong documentation skills related to evaluation and treatment
Commitment and passion concerning My Destination Life’s values, mission, and vision
Excellent communication and time management skills
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to use judgment and experience to plan and accomplish goals
Creative approach to problem solving
Openness to individual differences in ability, personality, and interests
Disposition and personality to work harmoniously with all people and all levels of staff, and to interact professionally as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
Absolute integrity and the use of good judgment to handle the professional and confidential nature of our clients
Flexibility to adapt to changing organizational needs
For more information, please reach out with a cover letter and your resume