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UNC Health is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist II to join our pediatric rehabilitation team and provide specialized occupational therapy services in the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. The NICU uses a multidisciplinary approach to care, with collaboration among Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Child Life, Social Work, Respiratory Therapy, Dietitians, pastoral care, palliative care, and other members of the neonatal team.
The Occupational Therapist II serves as a clinical specialist and subject matter expert, providing evidence-based evaluation, consultation, skilled intervention, and caregiver education for patients with complex needs. This role also supports clinical education, staff development, interdisciplinary collaboration, quality improvement, and advancement of specialty practice. Occupational Therapy in the NICU environment focuses on developmental interventions and does not include feeding interventions.
Position is Monday - Friday, rotating weekends and holidays
Provides specialized occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, and caregiver education for infants receiving care in the NICU, using evidence-based practice and advanced clinical reasoning. Develops and modifies individualized plans of care, identifies expected outcomes, manages resources to support patient goals, and communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care. Completes occupational therapy documentation, billing, and required statistics according to team guidelines while managing the daily caseload efficiently and meeting established productivity expectations.
Partners with families and caregivers to provide education and support that promotes infant development, safe handling, positioning, and continuity of care. Collaborates closely with the interdisciplinary NICU team to support coordinated, family-centered developmental care and safe progression through hospitalization and transition from the NICU. Serves as a clinical resource in neonatal physical therapy and contributes to specialty program development, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research initiatives.
Mentors assistive personnel and supports onboarding, clinical orientation, and competency verification for new staff in accordance with licensing requirements and departmental standards. Provides clinical education, precepting, and mentoring for students, fellows, teammates, and other disciplines and supports competency development in neonatal practice. Demonstrates leadership, advocates for the occupational therapy profession, contributes to the professional development of others, and supports high-quality service delivery.
Other Information Other information: Education
• Graduation from an accredited Occupational Therapy program. Licensure/Certification
• Licensed as an Occupational Therapist in the state of North Carolina. Professional Experience
• Five (5) years of occupational therapy experience including one (1) year in the specialty field of work to which assigned. Prefer experience in neonatal, pediatric acute care, or intensive care occupational therapy. Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities
• Advanced level clinical skills as evidenced by specialty certifications, additional training and/or expertise in a given clinical specialty. • Exhibits effective communication and interprofessional skills; requires physical stamina and repetitive movements, including, but not limited to, sitting, standing, kneeling, walking, and squatting during patient interventions while supporting one's weight; can engage in high-level problem-solving to ensure patient safety during mobilization.
Job Details Legal Employer: STATE Entity: UNC Medical Center Organization Unit: Occupational Therapy Pediatric Work Type: Full Time Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00 Salary Range: $38.55 - $55.43 per hour (Hiring Range) Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity Work Assignment Type: Onsite Work
Day Job Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.
UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.