Occupational Therapist

Class Specifications – H.80
Occupational Therapist V – 9495
Occupational Therapist IV – 9496
Occupational Therapist III – 9497
Occupational Therapist II – 9498
Occupational Therapist I – 9499

December, 1985

Series Concept

Occupational Therapists, under medical orders, conduct evaluations of patients requiring occupational therapy; plan individual care programs; administer occupational therapy treatments; and perform other related duties as required.

Incumbents plan, organize and conduct occupational therapy programs which utilize various treatment modalities including activities of daily living and problem solving skills, language and educational techniques, sensory motor integration, upper extremity splinting, physical restoration methods, adaptive aids, and prevocational explorations to increase the repertoire of tasks and interpersonal skills needed for community living and adaptation; select and administer appropriate occupational therapy evaluative instruments; establish rehabilitation goals for each patient’s progress and coordinate occupational therapy programs with other disciplines; and observe, evaluate, and document patient progress.

Incumbents may institute clinical training programs; may instruct and direct the work of occupational therapy interns, student nurses, and other members of treatment teams; may select, train and direct the work of volunteers; may train patients’ relatives or companions in occupational therapy techniques; and may recommend equipment and supply purchases for occupational therapy programs.

purchases for occupational therapy programs. The Occupational Therapist series consists of five levels of responsibility ranging from Occupational Therapist I (journey/operational) through Occupational Therapist V (managerial). The factors used as a basis for classification determination reflect administrative responsibility through managerial/supervisory assignments; clinical expertise through complexity/diversity of assignments; and accountability and responsibility for patient care, teaching, research, and occupational therapy practice.

Class Concepts

Occupational Therapist V

Under general medical and administrative direction, incumbents administer complex occupational therapy programs which typically include supervisory responsibility for several occupational therapists, occupational therapy aides and related support personnel. Areas of administration may include several specialized programs which require advanced knowledge of such clinical problems as the physically disabled, developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed, or a diversity of programs which address all three areas of patient care, teaching and research. Incumbents typically coordinate and supervise occupational therapy services; formulate and administer departmental objectives; policies, and procedures; coordinate occupational therapy programs with other departments and services of the institution, other UC facilities and the community; recruit, select, and train personnel and evaluate their performance; organize, administer, and control departmental budget, personnel, space, and equipment needs.

Occupational Therapist IV

Under general direction incumbents plan, organize and direct multi-function occupational therapy programs which typically have fewer occupational therapists, occupational therapy aides and related support personnel than those directed by Occupational Therapist V’s or function as first assistants to Occupational Therapist V’s, with major delegated responsibilities related to the overall function of the occupational therapy programs.

Occupational Therapist III

Under direction, incumbents (a) are assigned responsibility for supervising the work of occupational therapists and support personnel assigned to specific units (e.g. In-patient, Out-patient, PM&R Rehabilitation) including responsibility for the quality of occupational therapy services in the unit; or (b) are assigned primary responsibility for the design and conduct of clinical research and special studies in the unit; or (c) are assigned primary responsibility for the organization and direction of educational and training programs in the unit.

Incumbents typically evaluate occupational therapy practices, develop the necessary methodologies, and implement occupational therapy standards; provide consultation services, assess clinical education needs of the services, and participate in implementing and evaluating educational programs.

Occupational Therapist II

Under general supervision incumbents are assigned advanced operational duties as clinical specialists and typically implement established occupational therapy standards, assess occupational therapy needs, and plan, evaluate and implement occupational therapy programs for patients with complex problems. Incumbents utilize specialized knowledge and skills for patient care supervision, evaluation and teaching. Incumbents may act as resource persons within the organization and/or community; and may provide clinical direction and evaluation to Occupational Therapist I’s. Incumbents may in addition perform the full range of duties as outlined in the Series Concept.

Occupational Therapist I

Under supervision, incumbents provide care to patients in a structured environment; perform established occupational therapy intervention techniques using current clinical knowledge. Incumbents typically perform the full range of operational level duties as outlined in the Series Concept.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited school of Occupational Therapy approved by the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association, eligibility for registration by the National Registry of the American Occupational Therapy Association, and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Note: Specific qualification requirements are approved for positions by the Personnel Manager in accordance with the provisions of Staff Personnel Policies 210.8 and 210.9.