State of Maryland

An Occupational Therapist III, Advanced is the advanced level of work providing occupational therapy treatments to patients that have behavioral health diagnoses, are aged, physically ill, or have physical disabilities, or clients with developmental disabilities of State inpatient, residential or vocational rehabilitation treatment facilities or community-based programs in clinic, school or home settings. Employees in this classification function as the sole occupational therapist responsible for providing all occupational therapy services in a State facility or local health department. The work of the classification includes responsibility for the administrative operations of the program as well as for all clinical aspects of assessment, planning and implementation of clients’/patients’ occupational therapy treatment. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive general 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 based on staffing requirements. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease. Employees may be required to physically restrain patients/clients displaying violent and aggressive behavior. The work may require lifting and positioning of nonambulatory patients/clients and lifting of wheelchairs and other heavy equipment. The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing 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 III Advanced is differentiated from the Occupational Therapist II in that the Occupational Therapist III Advanced functions as the sole Occupational Therapist responsible for all therapy services in a State facility or local Health Department while the Occupational Therapist II performs the full range of duties in a State inpatient, residential or vocational rehabilitation treatment facility or community-based program under general supervision. The Occupational Therapist III Advanced is differentiated from the Occupational Therapist III Lead in that the Occupational Therapist III Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower level Occupational Therapists. The Occupational Therapist III Advanced is differentiated from the Occupational Therapist Supervisor in that the Occupational Therapist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Occupational Therapists.

Develops the policies and procedures for the administrative and clinical functions of an occupational therapy program for a State facility, or local health department;

Prepares and monitors the occupational therapy program budget;

Collects all necessary data in order to develop treatment plans for patients/clients with unusual needs;

Determines additional training, education, literature and resources needed for facility and community-based staff in the area of occupational therapy;

Plans, develops, implements and evaluates occupational therapy treatments for patients/clients;

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

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

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

Develops, provides or assists in clinical training of occupational therapy students;

Assesses the functional level of patients/clients;

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

Fits and instructs patients/clients in the use of orthosis and prosthesis;

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

Provides occupational therapy training to other staff;

Orders supplies and equipment;

Completes evaluation, progress and statistical reports concerning patient/client progress;

May provide budget recommendations;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of occupational therapy;

Knowledge of human behavioral norms, abnormalities and deficits;

Knowledge of student training principles;

Knowledge of psychiatric and somatic illness;

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 patients/clients;

Skill in recognizing changes in patient/client progress;

Skill in motivating patients/clients;

Skill in fitting orthotic and prosthetic devices and adapting equipment to the specific need of the patient/client;

Skill in planning, organizing and directing occupational therapy treatments;

Skill in preparing and maintaining;

Skill in communicating effectively with patients, clients, staff, students, volunteers and the public;

Ability to train, assign, review and approve the work of occupational therapists and students.

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

Experience: Three years of experience as an occupational therapist.

Notes:

1. A Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Therapy classifications or Therapy specialty codes in the Occupation Therapy field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. 

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, Maryland 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 an automobile. Employees assigned duties may be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland, and driving records will be subject to investigation.

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.