ECI Occupational Therapist

About the role

Are you looking for a purpose-driven career? At Metrocare, we serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying.

Metrocare is the largest provider of mental health services in North Texas, serving over 55,000 adults and children annually. For over 50 years, Metrocare has provided a broad array of services to people with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities.

In addition to behavioral health care, Metrocare provides primary care centers for adults and children, services for veterans and their families, accessible pharmacies, housing, and supportive social services. Alongside clinical care, researchers and teachers from Metrocare's Altshuler Center for Education & Research are advancing mental health beyond Dallas County while providing critical workforce to the state.

General Description

The mission of Metrocare Services is to serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying. We are an agency committed to quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed care to individuals experiencing serious mental illness, development disabilities, and co-occurring disorders. Metrocare programs focus on the issues that matter most in the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve.

The Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program at Metrocare services provides developmental therapies and service coordination to eligible babies from birth up to the age of 3 who have significant developmental delays or disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C.

Services are provided in the natural environment (e.g. home, daycare, community-settings, telehealth) and are delivered through Coaching with primary caregivers versus one-to-one treatment with the baby and therapist. The Occupational Therapist provides motor development therapy, assessment, education, plans and support to ECI children and families.

Hours of Responsibility

Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm, Responsible for providing services and attend required meetings/trainings during these operational hours

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions listed here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the job.

• Develops, implements and provides individual motor therapy with infants, toddlers, and routine caregivers in a variety of inclusive and natural settings utilizing the Coaching delivery model.
• Provides routine caregivers/families with consultation and therapy services as written on the child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and assigned through internal referral procedures.
• Organizes caseload and schedules services with families assigned.
• Evaluates for and develops assistive technology/adaptive equipment to assist in daily living skills and to promote independence according to the developmental goals on the child's service plan.
• Is part of an interdisciplinary team that determines eligibility to the ECI program utilizing standardized evaluation protocols established by HHSC ECI State Office (e.g. BDI-3, HELP Strands, DAYC-2, etc.)
• Utilizes discipline-specific assessment tools to determine appropriate occupational therapy services for infants and toddlers (e.g., AIMS, Sensory Profile)
• Coordinates with and provides consultation/training for other Interdisciplinary team members to facilitate services, as needed.
• Completes accurate and timely service documentation including progress notes and assessment records (service documentation is to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. of the following business day).
• Works in accordance with ECI philosophy regarding natural environment delivery, Coaching, and teamwork with other ECI services/providers.
• Comply with ECI of Metrocare and HHSC ECI State policies and procedures.
• Supports Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants, students and interns as assigned.
• Attend regularly scheduled ECI Team Meeting and OT/ PT Team Meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

The competencies listed here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the ethical standards of conduct, state contract, appropriate professional standards and applicable state/federal laws.
• Analytical skills, professional acumen, business ethics, thorough understanding of continuous improvement processes, problem solving, respect for confidentiality, and excellent communication skills.
• Self-motivating, professional acumen, problem solving, respect for confidentiality.
• Must be able to speak in front of unfamiliar people.
• Passionate in advocating for and educating for children.
• Able to develop and manage day-to-day personal therapy and evaluation schedule.

Qualifications

Education, Experience, Licenses, and Certifications

• Required: Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program
• Required: 2+ years' experience working with infants and/or families in employment or volunteer capacity
• Required: Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist by the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy of Examiners.
• Preferred: Proficient in Spanish and/or American Sign Language

DRIVING REQUIRED: Yes

Mathematical Skills

• Basic math skills required.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one or two-step instructions.
• Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.

Computer Skills

• Use computer, printer, and software programs necessary to the position (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to utilize Internet for resources.

Benefits Information and Perks

Metrocare couldn't have a great employee-first culture without great benefits. That's why we offer a competitive salary, exceptional training, and an outstanding benefits package:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Plan, including employer matching
• Health Savings Account, including employer matching
• Professional Development allowance up to $2000 per year
• Bilingual Stipend - 6% of the base salary
• Many other benefits