Internships Specifications: This position exclusively pertains to students assigned by the Director of Clinical Education or Academic Fieldwork Coordinator from their university/college pursuing their Level I or II internship.
Intern Job Responsibilities:
Level I
- Become familiar with administration and scoring of a least one pediatric standardized assessment tool via observation with CI or self-study.
- Become familiar with common frames of references and treatment approaches in pediatrics.
- Become familiar with common medical and therapy diagnosis treated in pediatrics.
- Become familiar with the characteristics of hypertonicity, and fluctuating muscle tone thought observations and hands on experience.
- Become familiar with the characteristics of characteristics of sensory processing, difficulties such as defensiveness, modulation, registration, and integration.
- Become familiar with therapeutic equipment and supplies and their clinical uses and benefits.
- Begin to identify how to adapt therapeutic activities and environment to client’s level and desire outcome/skills.
- Become to develop clinical observation skills re: client’s posture/movement, sensory processing skills, fine/visual motor skills, coordination, behavior, and social interactions.
- Begin to develop treatment planning skills to link areas of impairment to limitations in client’s ability to engage in developmentally appropriate occupational roles and tasks.
- Become familiar with goal writing process including setting criteria and priorities.
- Become familiar with the roles of other members of the team. Work in collaboration with them -PT’s, SLP’s, Family Services Staff, Education staff and parents/caregivers.
- Become familiar with home programs and parent training related to client’s treatment plan.
- Observe and assist in treatment sessions; engage in clinical discussions with Clinical Instructor.
- Observe and assist with evaluation/re-evaluation if opportunity is available.
- Attend team meeting if opportunity is available.
- Review CI documentation: ask questions related to information read.
- Complete chart reviews, review assessment tools, manuals, and research relevant diagnosis.
- Complete written observations for each assigned treatment session, evaluation, and/or re-evaluation; discuss findings daily with CI.
- Complete self-evaluation.
Level II
- Demonstrate competence in the administration, scoring and interpretation of common pediatric standardized and non-standardized assessment tools.
- Demonstrate competence in gathering pertinent evaluation data via parent interview and clinical observation skills.
- Demonstrate competence in interpreting formal and informal assessment results and determining eligibility and needs for direct intervention, referral to other services and other recommendations.
- Demonstrate competence in knowledge of normal development, discipline frames of reference and common/evidence-based treatment approaches in pediatrics.
- Demonstrate competence in knowledge of common medical and therapeutic diagnoses in pediatrics.
- Demonstrate competence with the use of common pediatric therapeutic equipment and materials.
- Demonstrate competence in selecting adapting therapeutic activities to clients’ level and goals.
- Demonstrate competence in the therapeutic use-of-self and environmental considerations/adaptations based on clients’ needs and goals (i.e., child versus adult directed activities).
- Demonstrate competence in developing treatment plans incorporating client’s strength, prioritized areas of weakness and family goals/concerns.
- Demonstrate competence with goal writing, including measurable criteria. Prioritization and client’s prognosis/therapeutic potential.
- Demonstrate competence in documentation skills, including all agency required paperwork.
- Demonstrate competence in working in collaboration with all other members of intervention team.
- Demonstrate competence in developing home programs and providing parent instruction and training.
- Demonstrate competence in self-responsibility for professional development, including identifying areas of need and proactively seeking information to improve skills and knowledge.
- Demonstrate competence in cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness.
- Demonstrate project and professional presentation to staff.
- Demonstrate competence in professional communication and interpersonal skills with colleagues, families, and clients.
Qualifications
Education and Training: Associate Degree for PTA or OTA students.
Master or Doctoral Candidates for PT/OT/ST students
Minimum Experience: Pursuing Level I or Level II internship