Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Nexus Children's Hospital Dallas is seeking a compassionate and motivated Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to join our interdisciplinary rehabilitation team.

This is an opportunity to work with children and adolescents with complex medical, neurological, neurodevelopmental, and behavioral needs in a specialty hospital environment. Working under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist, you'll provide hands-on interventions designed to improve independence, sensory regulation, motor skills, and participation in everyday activities.

If you're looking for a COTA role where you can expand your clinical experience and see the impact of your work every day, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Provide evidence-based occupational therapy interventions under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist.
• Help patients build greater independence with self-care, play, social participation, functional mobility, and other daily activities.
• Implement individualized treatment plans for patients with neurological, neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and medically complex conditions.
• Utilize therapeutic approaches including sensory integration and processing strategies, motor learning, task-oriented training, fine and visual-motor skill development, and behavioral/environmental modifications.
• Facilitate engaging therapeutic activities in individual and group settings, including inpatient units, sensory spaces, therapy kitchens, and other treatment environments.
• Adapt interventions for patients with medical complexities such as seizure disorders, feeding challenges, mobility limitations, and other co-occurring conditions.
• Monitor patient response to treatment and communicate progress and clinical observations to the supervising Occupational Therapist.
• Collaborate with Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, physicians, nurses, psychologists, behavior analysts, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team.
• Educate and support patients and families regarding therapy goals, strategies, and home programs.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory and organizational standards.
• Promote a safe, supportive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered treatment environment.
• Participate in continuing education, competency development, and quality improvement initiatives.

What We're Looking For

Education

• Associate's degree from an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.

Experience

• Minimum of six months of experience in an acute care hospital or rehabilitation setting.
• One year of pediatric or neurodevelopmental experience preferred.
• Experience working with behavioral health and/or medically complex patient populations is highly desirable.

Licensure & Certification

• Current NBCOT certification.
• Current license to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in the State of Texas.
• Current BLS certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, valid for at least six months from date of hire.
• De-escalation training must be completed within 30 days of hire.
• Additional pediatric occupational therapy or behavioral health certifications are a plus.

What Will Help You Succeed

• Strong pediatric occupational therapy and therapeutic handling skills.
• Knowledge of sensory processing, sensory modulation, and motor development.
• Ability to implement individualized treatment plans using evidence-based interventions.
• Experience with adaptive equipment, assistive technology, and environmental modifications.
• Confidence working with patients who may display challenging behaviors or require additional behavioral support.
• A trauma-informed, patient-centered approach to care.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Strong organization and time-management skills in a dynamic hospital environment.

Why Nexus Children's Hospital Dallas?

At Nexus, our teams care for patients whose needs often cross traditional boundaries between medical care, rehabilitation, and behavioral health. Our interdisciplinary approach gives therapy professionals the opportunity to collaborate closely with other clinical disciplines while helping patients achieve meaningful functional gains.

As a COTA at Nexus Children's Hospital Dallas, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills with a unique patient population while making a meaningful difference for children and families navigating complex medical and rehabilitation needs.

Join our team and help our patients build greater independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Nexus Health Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer.