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Occupational Therapy Aides Occupation Detailed Description

Occupational Therapy Aides career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Occupational Therapy Aides

The main tasks and work activities of Occupational Therapy Aides are to encourage patients during therapeutic activities, communicate patient status to other health practitioners, prepare medical reports or documents, maintain medical records. In general, for the Occupational Therapy Aides, service Orientation, speaking, social Perceptiveness, active Listening and other 12 skills are required.
Occupational Therapy Aides Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Occupational Therapy Aides jobs. 36.76% of Occupational Therapy Aides have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 8.72% of Occupational Therapy Aides have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
36.76%
Post-Secondary Certificate
8.72%
Some College Courses
24.32%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
28.40%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
1.80%

Tasks and Work Activities of Occupational Therapy Aides

  • Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
  • Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
  • Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
  • Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
  • Evaluate the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
  • Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
  • Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
  • Supervise patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects.
  • Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
  • Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
  • Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
  • Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
  • Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
  • Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
  • Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Training and Teaching OthersIdentifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
  • Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.
  • Prepare medical reports or documents.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Record vital statistics or other health information.
  • Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
  • Manage control system activities in organizations.
  • Monitor work areas or procedures to ensure compliance with safety procedures.
  • Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
  • Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.
  • Engage patients in exercises or activities.
  • Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.
  • Perform clerical work in medical settings.
  • Stock medical or patient care supplies.
  • Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
  • Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.

Skills and Abilities for Occupational Therapy Aides

  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Cutlery or utensils for the physically challengede.g. Adaptive cutlery
  • Adaptive communication switches for the physically challengede.g. Augmentative communication systems
  • Bead accessoriese.g. Beading needles
  • Braille devices for the physically challengede.g. Braille writers
  • Canes or cane accessoriese.g. Canes
  • Letter or symbol boards for the physically challengede.g. Communication boards
  • Crochet hookse.g. Crochet hooks
  • Crutches or crutch accessoriese.g. Crutches
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Dressing sticks for the physically challengede.g. Dressing sticks
  • Weights or sets or accessories for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Hand weights
  • Hand sewing needlese.g. Knitting needles
  • Lacing or stringing accessoriese.g. Lacing needles
  • Weaving accessoriese.g. Latch hooks
  • Leather accessoriese.g. Leather scissors
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Multi-line telephone systems
  • Sawse.g. Multi-purpose saw sets
  • Orthopedic splint systemse.g. Orthopedic splints
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Photocopierse.g. Photocopiers
  • Therapy and CounselingKnowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.