Instructions for Application
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume Dr. Lyndsay Wood: lwood@nesca-newton.com. For questions about this position, please contact Dr. Wood at 802-489-6524 or lwood@nesca-newton.com. All inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.
Position Details:
NESCA is seeking per diem occupational therapists to join the Real-life Skills Coaching team (4-10 hours per week, usually afterschool hours).
Coaches provide services for adolescents and adults looking to develop functional life skills in their own homes and communities. For example, coaches and their clients may explore leisure activities at restaurants and coffee shops, volunteer at a pet shelter, apply for part-time work or internships, or work together to develop a study plan for a community college class. Concrete skills such as managing money, using transportation, personal shopping, self-care routines, and meal preparation are often areas of need for clients. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with excellent organizational and communication skills who enjoys coaching young people using a relational model and a great deal of creativity. A passion for learning and helping others is a must.
Job Details
- Identify occupational performance deficits using a client and family centered approach
- Implement individualized services for youth with a wide range of cognitive, learning, and developmental abilities and disability-related needs
- Plan and execute “fun and functional” sessions focused on skill development related to independent living, community success, and/or college and work readiness
- Communicate effectively with clients, families, school personnel, and any other relevant team members
- Work with clients to create weekly written (i.e., email) summaries of coaching sessions to share with team members
- Report (in writing) on progress and make recommendations for needed service provision when needed/appropriate
- Provide in-person services outside of typical school hours (Weekdays after 3 and/or weekends)
Qualifications
- Master’s degree minimum; MA licensure in Occupational Therapy
- 1-3 years of experience as an OT working in a school or clinic setting, preferably with teens and young adults
- Previous experience working with clients with emotional, behavioral or medically complex challenges and their families
- Proficiency in using self-determination principles and building self-advocacy skills
- Experience performing formal and informal assessments to ascertain aptitudes and needs related to increasing student independence related to competitive employment, education, training, and independent living
- Excellent organizational, written and oral communication skills
- Compassion, empathy, patience, persistence and a strong interest in helping clients be successful
- Ability to creatively problem-solve and think outside the box
- Willingness to seek help and supervision
- Able to work as an independent contributor (managing own client caseload) as well as a team player
- Sense of humor!