Occupational Therapist, Child Development Services

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.  

Program and Role Summary

Wayfinder’s Child Development Services provides early intervention in person to children from birth to age 6 with visual impairment or multiple disabilities. Young children maximize any vision they have and reduce developmental delays. Parents learn to provide their child with therapeutic stimulation and advocate for their child’s education and care. Child development reduces the need for special education and increases independence for children with disabilities.

The primary focus on the Occupational Therapist, is to provide occupational therapy services to children from birth to three years of age to support and promote skills needed for daily living and participation in the environment. You’ll work with students who may have developmental delays, disabilities, or other challenges that affect their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities or learning. The occupational therapist will provide services in the client’s home, advocate on behalf of the client’s family, partner with parents and caregivers to empower them as advocates for their child.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide direct intervention in the child's natural environment; home, center-based site, school, or hospital. Coordinate scheduling to meet the needs of the family, ensuring weekly visits are met as authorized by the Regional Center or school district.
• Provide appropriate intervention to children birth through three years of age that exhibit severe motor delays with atypical or scattered skills or atypical tone, several global delays, moderate to severe feeding delays or disorders, feeding delays or disorders associated with secondary issue (reflux, sensory issues, etc., severe sensory challenges and/or vision loss.
• Provide comprehensive case management services to assist children with delays or disabilities and their families in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, developmental, and other appropriate services at the frequency determined by program expectations.
• Participates in the development and implementation of each child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) in collaboration with the family and education team, providing progress reports as required by each Regional Center or Local Education Agency.
• Provides families with information regarding visual diagnosis, early development, and effects of vision loss on early childhood development.
• Promote function, learning, and development across all domains, with an emphasis on adaptive behavior, self-help skills, fine and gross motor development, postural development, mobility, sensory development, behavior, play and oral motor functioning, as related to the Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP).
• Frequent driving is required throughout Los Angeles County.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited occupational therapy program. The program should be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
• California occupational therapy state licensure is required.
• Minimum one year of experience as an occupational therapist, working with infants/children preferred.
• Familiarity with services available to infants, children, and their families is preferred.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of two (2) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4% 
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans 
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Additional Benefits Offered for this role :

• Training and professional development

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.