State of Maryland

An Occupational Therapist I is the intermediate level of work providing occupational therapy treatments to clients who are aged or physically ill, have physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, or behavioral health diagnoses in community-based programs in clinics, schools or home settings. Employees in this classification are responsible for the assessment, planning and implementation of clients' occupational therapy treatment. Employees in this classification may oversee the work of Occupational Therapy Assistants and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from an Occupational Therapist Supervisor or other licensed health professional. Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions and may be required to lift and move clients and equipment. Employees may be required to physically restrain clients/patients displaying violent and aggressive behavior.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

The Occupational Therapist I and the Occupational Therapist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Occupational Therapist I performs duties in a community-based program under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. The Occupational Therapist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities in a State inpatient, residential or vocational rehabilitation treatment facility or community-based program under general supervision. The Occupational Therapist I is differentiated from the Occupational Therapist Institutional in that the Occupational Therapist Institutional performs duties in a State residential treatment facility under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.

Plans, develops and implements occupational therapy treatments for clients of community-based programs;

Instructs individuals and groups in specific skills, such as social interaction, sensorimotor functions, basic tasks, grooming and hygiene, and independent daily living skills;

Studies, observes and records the reactions and progress of clients;

Evaluates clients in order to determine appropriate treatment or suitability of treatment program;

Assesses the functional level of clients;

Develops and modifies occupational therapy programs based upon the needs of clients;

Fits and instructs clients in the use of orthotic and prosthetic devices;

Provides and instructs in the use of adaptive devices and compensation techniques;

Completes evaluation, progress and statistical reports concerning client progress;

May be required to physically restrain patients/clients displaying violent aggressive behavior;

May oversee the work of Occupational Therapy Assistants and support staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of occupational therapy;

Knowledge of human behavioral norms;

Knowledge of psychiatric and physical illnesses;

Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology;

Knowledge of medications and their side effects;

Knowledge of diseases and disabilities and their etiology, pathology, complications and prognosis;

Knowledge of medical, surgical, psychological and educational procedures used in the occupational therapy treatment of clients;

Skill in recognizing changes in client progress;

Skill in motivating clients;

Skill in fitting orthotic and prosthetic devices and adapting equipment to needs of the client;

Ability to plan, organize and direct occupational therapy treatments;

Ability to prepare and maintain reports;

Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff and the general public.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice under the licensing requirements for Occupational Therapists.

Experience: None.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as an Occupational Therapist from the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, Spring Grove Hospital Center, 55 Wade Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must:  1.) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2.)  receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3.) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.