Per Diem Occupational Therapists/ Real-Life Skills Coach - NESCA : Job Details

NESCA is seeking per diem occupational therapists to join the Real-life Skills Coaching team (4-10 hours per week, usually afterschool hours). We are hiring for a coach to work in Newton, MA and another coach to work in Andover, MA.

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
• Report (in writing) on progress and make recommendations for needed service provision when needed/appropriate

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 client's independence with daily occupations
• 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

Pay range: $75-$100 an hour