04/26/1997 31131

FORENSIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory professional work in the field of occupational therapy services at a Forensic Psychiatric Unit on the grounds of a Commonwealth mental health facility.

An employee in this class plans, organizes, and supervises the delivery of occupational therapy services to forensic patients with a mental illness who have been placed through the criminal justice or corrections systems for diagnosis, evaluation and intensive treatment. Work may involve coordinating facility-wide occupational therapy services with services provided by other disciplines and functions as the professional resource person for all matters requiring occupational therapy expertise within the facility or Forensic unit. Work involves directing the design, implementation and evaluation of occupational therapy program plans,
including the assessment of forensic patients' functioning levels, strengths, and needs; formulation of occupational therapy segments of comprehensive individual treatment program plans, and presentation of treatment/ rehabilitative methods to a multi-disciplinary team. The employee plans, develops, and implements medically, developmentally, and/or psychologically focused occupational therapy programs to determine current skill levels and assist patients in developing basic functional skills or retain or strengthen existing skills. The diverse modalities used in these programs may include arts and crafts, audio-visual
media, physical restorative activities, and adaptive equipment and devices. Program objectives may be directed toward activities of daily living, group interaction, sensory stimulation or training, physical conditioning, reflex inhibition, or neuromuscular-muscular facilitation in order to stimulate or alter the neuromuscular-physiological or psycho-social development of the patient and to provide a context for normal living. Employees develop operational procedures, interpret policies and programs to staff personnel, and supervise the delivery of occupational therapy programs. An important aspect of the work is the responsibility
for the care, custody and control of forensic patients with a mental disability while participating in occupational therapy programs. Supervision and/or coordination is normally exercised over lower level forensic therapists, professional workers, and Forensic Security Employees. Work is performed with considerable independence under the general direction of a higher level therapist or other administrative supervisor and is reviewed through conferences and reports to determine quality and achievement of established objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, organizes, supervises and participates in the development of occupational therapy services treatment plans to be provided for forensic patients with a mental disability who have been placed through the criminal justice or corrections system for diagnosis, evaluation and intensive treatment.

Coordinates and evaluates the delivery of occupational therapy services for patients within a Commonwealth Forensic Psychiatric Unit.

Participates in developing and coordinating policies or procedures related to occupational therapy program planning and development.

Directs and participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of occupational therapy segments of comprehensive individual forensic patient treatment program plans.

Provides for or actively assists in providing care, custody and control of forensic patients assigned during occupational therapy programs and/or activities within the Forensic Psychiatric Unit.

Develops operational procedures pertinent to the conduct of occupational therapy programs and serves as the Facility's professional resource person for all matters requiring occupational therapy expertise within the facility or Forensic Psychiatric Unit.

Interprets policies and procedures to staff personnel and cooperates in the coordination of occupational therapy services with other professional services.

Supervises professional, para-professional, and non-professional staff; prepares and signs employee performance evaluations; interviews prospective employees and recommends employee selection or ranks applicants in terms of preferability of employment; approves leave, schedules work assignments, and authorizes or assigns overtime.

Reviews and identifies training needs of staff; initiates training recommendations; plans and conducts training, and demonstrates more efficient work methods.

Directs and participates in providing occupational therapy-related training of professional and non-professional staff in other disciplines.

Conducts clinical internship programs for affiliated occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students who intern at the facility/Forensic Psychiatric Unit.

Arranges for student interns to have experience with varying types of problems and disabilities, and to receive orientation to the facility's/Forensic Psychiatric Unit's occupational therapy services and functions of other disciplines.

Consults with the multi disciplinary treatment team on the development and conduct of occupational therapy programs.

Coordinates delivery of occupational therapy programs within assigned areas or integrates occupational therapy services provided by other clinical disciplines, in accordance with individual patient treatment program plans.

Serves on facility/unit administrative or policy committees.

Screens and approves referrals to other therapeutic activities or other clinical services.

Participates in peer review processes.

Reviews reports of subordinate staff, and maintains necessary administrative and clinical records.

Requisitions, inspects and supervises proper maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for the implementation of occupational therapy services.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of current principles and techniques of occupational therapy.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of fostering physical and mental health and treatment and rehabilitation of those with mental or physical illnesses or disabilities through occupational therapy programs.

Knowledge of the various kinds of occupational therapy activities such as self-care skills training, activities of daily living training, physical restorative activities, and the techniques to motivate patients' interest in them.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior and effective ways of working with forensic patients with a mental disability.

Knowledge of body structure and functions and of the relationship between the neuromuscular-physiological and psycho-social aspects of human development and behavior.

Knowledge of the types and specifications of occupational therapy equipment and supplies needed for occupational therapy services, and their proper care and maintenance.

Knowledge of behavioral, rehabilitative, and development principles and practices, and their application to daily living situations in a forensic setting.

Knowledge of health and safety policies, procedures, and practices in a forensic setting.

Knowledge of principles and methods of in-service training programs pertinent to occupational therapy and out-service training resources.

Skill in reviewing assessments of forensic patient functioning level, strengths, needs, and progress relative to occupational therapy program requirements.

Skill in observing and evaluating occupational therapy services, and in directing staff in adapting activities to meet individual needs of forensic patients.

Ability to interpret and apply departmental and facility/Forensic Psychiatric Unit policy and appropriate standards.

Ability to develop skill in the care, custody and control of Forensic patients assigned during occupational therapy programs and/or as needed on the unit.

Ability to utilize clinical and program data in planning, evaluating and directing implementation of occupational therapy programs and to adapt and implement such programs as required.

Ability to plan, assign, supervise and evaluate the work of professional, para-professional, and non-professional staff and student interns.

Ability to evaluate staff training needs and develop training programs to meet those needs utilizing varied techniques and resources.

Ability to establish cooperative relationships with universities having occupational therapy assistant and occupational therapist curricula, and to conduct training programs based on university standards.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professional and non-professional personnel within the facility/Forensic Psychiatric Unit, criminal justice and/or Corrections systems and the community.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: One year as a Licensed Occupational Therapist;

or

One year of experience as a professional licensed occupational therapist;

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a license to practice occupational therapy issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure.