Definition

Supervises occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, students, and other assigned staff; directs, plans and administers occupational therapy programs; develops, implements and monitors performance standards, policies and procedures to ensure cross unit standardization and quality control in Occupational Therapy services.  Positions may also serve as a senior technical consultant performing workplace consultations and strategic planning for the development of therapy policy, standards/guidelines and training for occupational health professionals. 

In the Department of Labor and Industries, acts as the single statewide technical specialist in the areas of Occupational Therapy policy and procedures, including job modification, home and vehicle modification, work hardening programs, and occupational therapy clinical treatment services.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Under general direction, supervises assigned staff; develops clinical programs and fieldwork programs; and develops, implements and monitors performance standards, policies, and procedures.  Positions may have statewide responsibility, including serving as the technical expert and developing statewide therapy policy, procedures and internal training or having responsibility for developing, monitoring and reviewing statewide rehabilitation guidelines and standards for private therapy providers.

Typical Work

Interviews and recommends selection of applicants, trains employees, assigns and schedules work, acts upon leave requests, conducts annual performance evaluations, and recommends disciplinary action; 

Plans, organizes and directs occupational therapy program for patients; confers with medical and other staff members to coordinate occupational therapy program with related treatment programs; carries out physician's instructions regarding patient treatment; 

Interviews incoming patients to explain purpose and value of prescribed treatment activities;

Reviews work by analyzing reports and personal observation of patient response, progress, or regression; writes progress letters concerning patients, termination reports on discharged patients and reports evaluating patients; 

Develops quality control methods for private sector work hardening programs and monitors them using on-site visits, phone consultations, and structured reviews; collects and analyzes data from these programs to determine quality of service and cost effectiveness; 

Consults with employers and providers regarding Labor and Industries standards; provides training in techniques and methods; 

Performs ergonomic analysis, physical capacity assessments, hand evaluations, job analysis and/or job modifications as part of the return-to-work process; prepares written reports summarizing findings and makes recommendations to assist return-to-work or for prevention of injury; 

Develops and coordinates policy and procedures that impact provision of therapy and return-to-work services for injured workers; 

Provides training and consultation in ergonomics, job analysis, job modification, and provider program issues; 

Develops and monitors treatment protocols, clinical programs, and quality assurance activities; 

Provides technical assistance on ergonomic issues and job/home/vehicle modifications to therapist consultants, claims staff, L&I consultation staff, therapy and vocational providers, and injured workers in order to expedite claims resolutions; 

Conducts or leads industrial or medically-specific consultations on a statewide basis; 

Develops internship program for occupational and physical therapy students, in coordination with local colleges and universities; 

Assists in ensuring compliance with relevant accreditation and other standards; participates in continuing education in occupational therapy and clinical specialties and orientation for staff and other professionals; 

Requisitions and distributes therapy materials and equipment; 

Makes periodic inspections to ensure proper housekeeping and observance of safety precautions; 

Performs duties of Occupational Therapists; 

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: skeletal, muscular, neuroanatomical, biomechanical, and other physical disabilities; ergonomics; kinesiology; psychology; physical and work evaluations methods; state and federal regulations on disability and vocational rehabilitation; program development and research; business and technical computer programs; advanced ergonomic and training methods; advanced expertise in a medical specialty (e.g., hands, industrial rehabilitation, amputation); safety precautions; modalities; evaluative report writing. 

Ability to: direct occupational therapy program; supervise and instruct staff; conduct complex job/home/vehicle modifications and ergonomic analyses; develop ergonomic education and training programs; monitor private therapy providers on evaluations and return-to-work programs; establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, physicians, and staff; communicate with L&I consultants, claims managers, employers and injured workers concerning industrial injuries and physical disabilities.

Legal Requirement(s)

Licensed by the state of Washington as an Occupational Therapist or has a valid probational certificate issued by the state of Washington to practice occupational therapy.

Desirable Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited Occupational Therapy Program AND successful completion of American Occupational Therapy Association certification examination AND three years of professional experience as an occupational therapist. 

OR 

Equivalent education/experience.

Class Specification History

New class, consolidates 6142 Occupational Therapist Supervisor, 57240 Occupational Therapist 3, 57172 Therapist Consultant 3; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.