Academic Therapist Jobs

Description

POSITION PURPOSE

Provides academic therapy services by evaluating, assessing, selecting interventions, and treating clients who demonstrate areas of academic weakness and/or difficulties with executive functioning skills.

Essential Functions & Basic Duties

• Attends and actively participates in job-related functions such as department and team meetings, parent conferences, peer reviews, workshops, and mandatory trainings.
• Provides consultation or collaboration in the classroom and other functional settings as appropriate in order to assist each client with generalization of skills into his/her daily environment and routine.
• Manages assigned caseload to ensure clients’ needs and weekly productivity requirements are met.
• Maintains familiarity with health and safety guidelines, including standard precautions and daily operating procedures.
• Reviews and updates each client’s treatment plan at least annually.
• Refers clients for additional assessments and/or services, as appropriate.
• Represents the program in a positive way to parents, visitors, and the public.
• Works closely and meets regularly with each client’s interdisciplinary team to collaborate, discuss, and solve problems and issues related to the client’s plan of care and progress toward identified goals and objectives. Communicates with school officials and/or team members about recommended accommodations and modifications in the classroom, as appropriate.
• Develops weekly lesson plans to target goals and objectives.
• Administers and scores academic and phonological awareness assessments, interprets results, and completes written reports, as indicated.
• Provides academic therapy services to identified clients, as indicated and/or recommended. Explanations for missed sessions are documented.
• Completes written discharge summaries when the client is discharged from academic therapy.
• Completes other documentation related to academic therapy using either deTaso or paper documentation, as appropriate.
• Develops treatment plans for academic therapy clients based on results of formal and informal assessments, psychological/psychoeducational test results, and/or consultations. Treatment plans include measurable goals and objectives.
• Assists with Academy testing and AERC psychoeducational testing, as indicated.
• Completion of professional continued education demonstrating current training related to state and national trends in student achievement.
• Uses deTaso to document weekly therapy schedules, daily progress notes, and billing.
• Identifies materials and equipment needed to provide appropriate treatment. If materials or equipment are not available, therapist may create them or request them through his/her supervisor.
• Completes relevant and approved continuing professional education each year as required to maintain professional licensure and other required standards.
• Provides written communication or documents verbal conversations with parents/guardians related to client progress at least every two weeks.
• May perform other related or non-related duties, as assigned.
• Completes written progress reports at the end of each semester.

COMPETENCIES

Ethics

• Upholds organizational values.
• Treats people with respect.
• Completes work ethically and with integrity.
• Inspires the trust of others.
• Keeps commitments.

Judgment

• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Displays willingness to make decisions.
• Includes appropriate people in decision-making process.
• Supports and explains reasoning for decisions.
• Makes timely decisions.
• Demonstrates safety awareness.

Client Focus

• Manages difficult or emotional client situations.
• Includes clients, parents/guardians, teachers, and other service providers in the academic therapy process through regular communication. Solicits feedback to improve services.
• Responds to requests for service and assistance.
• Demonstrates a commitment to clinical excellence.
• Responds promptly to client needs.

Planning/Organizing

• Sets measureable, client-focused goals and objectives and updates, as indicated.
• Maintains a neat and organized workspace.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities.
• Plans for additional resources.
• Uses time efficiently.
• Develops realistic action plans.

Problem Solving

• Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Develops alternative solutions.
• Involves supervisor and relevant team members in the problem-solving process, as indicated.
• Works well in group problem-solving situations.
• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
• Uses reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.

Professionalism

• Communicates with others in a tactful and professional manner.
• Accepts responsibility for own actions.
• Completes tasks within established deadlines.
• Treats others with respect and consideration, regardless of their status or position.
• Responds well under pressure.
• Follows instructions and responds to supervisory direction and feedback appropriately.
• Participates appropriately as a member of a team.

Quality

• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Applies feedback to improve performance.
• Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.

Written Communication

• Varies writing style to meet needs.
• Writes professionally, informatively, and in accordance with payor source guidelines.
• Presents numerical data effectively.
• Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret written information.
• Edits work for spelling and grammar.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

POSITION PURPOSE

Provides academic therapy services by evaluating, assessing, selecting interventions, and treating clients who demonstrate areas of academic weakness and/or difficulties with executive functioning skills.

Client Focus

• Responds to requests for service and assistance.
• Manages difficult or emotional client situations.
• Includes clients, parents/guardians, teachers, and other service providers in the academic therapy process through regular communication. Solicits feedback to improve services.
• Demonstrates a commitment to clinical excellence.
• Responds promptly to client needs.

Professionalism

• Accepts responsibility for own actions.
• Treats others with respect and consideration, regardless of their status or position.
• Completes tasks within established deadlines.
• Follows instructions and responds to supervisory direction and feedback appropriately.
• Participates appropriately as a member of a team.
• Responds well under pressure.
• Communicates with others in a tactful and professional manner.

Quality

• Applies feedback to improve performance.
• Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Written Communication

• Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret written information.
• Presents numerical data effectively.
• Writes professionally, informatively, and in accordance with payor source guidelines.
• Edits work for spelling and grammar.
• Varies writing style to meet needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/ Certification

• Certification in dyslexia intervention and/or educational therapy is preferred.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in education or related field. Special Education background is preferred.

Experience/ Knowledge Required

• One year of successful experience in a similar position or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills/ Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to work with children and adolescents.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standard situations.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to understand and interpret the data gathered in an assessment.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, policies, and other company documents.
• Basic computer skills, including a working knowledge of databases, word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet software.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a very busy environment.

Travel Requirements

• ACCESS drivers are required to maintain a valid Driver’s License, current auto liability insurance and registration, a clean driving record, and physical ability to drive to local locations throughout Arkansas.
• Daily travel is required for this position; travel may include transporting students/clients.