ABOLISHED 07/06/2017 PER PAY LETTER 17-25 - Occupational Therapy Assistant (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: TQ13
Class Code: 8290
Established: 05/23/2000
Revised: --
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, to assist in providing occupational therapy services to developmentally or mentally disordered offenders of a State developmental center, State hospital, or correctional facility contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; and to do other related work.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from the Occupational Therapy Assistant by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client, patient, or inmate population and the security features of the facility.
Typical Tasks
Carries out individual or group programs or portions thereof as planned by or under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist; assists in administering and scoring routine tests and evaluations to determine forensic clients', patients', or inmates' daily living skills and capacities; helps plan and implement remedial tasks or activities for forensic clients, patients, or inmates to meet treatment goals; trains and assists forensic clients, patients, or inmates in developing skills, interests, and life styles that develop self-sufficiency in overcoming disabilities and encourage independent functioning; assists in providing developmental exercise, multiple sensory stimulation, self-care activities, sensory integrative and perceptual motor experience to restore, reinforce, or establish sensory-motor, psychosocial and cognitive function and develop self- sufficiency in overcoming disabilities; observes and reports forensic client, patient, or inmate response to treatment; prepares work materials and assists in maintaining treatment areas and equipment in satisfactory operating condition; maintains a safe environment for forensic clients, patients, or inmates; keeps progress notes and posttreatment data in records; may attend clinics; may prepare reports; may perform clerical reception activities related to occupational therapy; and observes and intervenes in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior.
Assists staff in the counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting forensic clients', patients', or inmates' mail and living areas for hazardous contraband; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to patient escape; observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt; and escorting forensic clients, patients, or inmates to other areas of the facility.
Minimum Qualifications
Certification by the American Occupational Therapy Association as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. (Applicants who are eligible for certification as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant will be admitted to the examination, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Concepts and scope of occupational therapy and its relationships to other health care professions; professional ethics and conduct; human anatomy and physiology; human growth and development; psycho social and pathophysiological conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Ability to: Establish effective therapeutic relationships with mentally and physically handicapped persons; communicate with disturbed forensic clients, patients, or inmates; communicate and collaborate effectively with other professional personnel; maintain ethical and professional standards of performance; utilize recognized methods in applying occupational therapy techniques; follow directions and work under close supervision; observe and record responses to treatment; keep accurate records.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work at developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; tact; patience; and emotional stability.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.
