Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

About Alliance Home Care

Alliance Home Care is a Minnesota-licensed home care agency providing skilled and non-skilled services to individuals in their homes and communities. Our team is dedicated to dignity, safety, and enabling clients to live independently with the support they need.

Position Summary

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant provides skilled occupational therapy services to clients in their homes under the supervision and direction of a licensed Occupational Therapist, in accordance with the Minnesota OT Practice Act (Minn. Stat. ch. 148.6401–.6450), Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice rules, and Medicare Conditions of Participation (42 CFR 484). The COTA implements the OT-established plan of care, delivers delegated interventions, monitors client progress, and communicates observations to the supervising OT. Evaluation, plan-of-care establishment, OASIS completion, and discharge determination are OT functions and are never performed by the COTA.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Skilled OT Interventions

• Implements the occupational therapy plan of care and provides skilled interventions delegated by the supervising OT, including ADL and IADL retraining, therapeutic activities, neuromuscular re-education, energy conservation techniques, and cognitive and perceptual skill training.
• Provides adaptive equipment training and home safety instruction as directed by the supervising OT.
• Delivers caregiver and client education consistent with the OT-established plan; reinforces home programs and strategies developed by the supervising OT.
• Monitors client response to treatment, functional progress toward established goals, and any changes in condition; communicates findings to the supervising OT promptly.
• Participates in discharge planning activities as directed by the supervising OT; documents progress toward goals and functional status at discharge.

Supervision and Collaboration

• Practices only under the supervision of a licensed OT as required by Minn. Stat. 148.6432; participates in face-to-face collaboration visits with the supervising OT at the frequency required by state law and agency policy.
• Communicates regularly with the supervising OT regarding client status, progress, and any clinical concerns; escalates changes in condition or unexpected findings immediately.
• Participates in case conferences, team meetings, and interdisciplinary communications as scheduled.
• Does NOT perform occupational therapy evaluations, reevaluations, initial assessments, OASIS data collection, plan-of-care establishment or revision, or discharge determinations — these are OT-only functions.

Documentation and Compliance

• Documents all visits, interventions, client responses, and progress toward goals accurately and on time in the electronic health record (KanTime EMR) per agency and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures documentation supports medical necessity, skilled need, and the services billed for each visit (42 CFR 484.110).
• Completes visit documentation within 24–48 hours per agency standard; falsification of records is grounds for termination and may constitute fraud.
• Maintains compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, the Minnesota OT Practice Act, agency policies, and HIPAA.
• Serves as a mandated reporter of suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults (Minn. Stat. 626.557) and minors (Minn. Stat. ch. 260E).
• Honors client rights under 42 CFR 484.50 and the Minnesota Home Care Bill of Rights (Minn. Stat. 144A.44).

Required Qualifications

• Current, unencumbered license as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant issued by the Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
• Current NBCOT certification (COTA) in good standing.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR certification.
• Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Cleared Minnesota DHS background study (Minn. Stat. ch. 245C) prior to direct contact with clients.
• Tuberculosis screening consistent with MDH/CDC requirements prior to client contact.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to document accurately in an electronic health record.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of COTA experience in home health, skilled nursing, assisted living, or a community-based setting.
• Home health and OASIS experience (observational knowledge; COTA does not complete OASIS independently).
• Experience with ADL/IADL retraining, cognitive rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment in home environments.
• Familiarity with KanTime EMR or comparable home health documentation system.
• Experience working with elderly or medically complex clients in a community setting.

Required Training (Provided or Verified by Alliance Home Care)

• Agency orientation, including the Minnesota Home Care Bill of Rights, client rights, and agency policies prior to providing client care.
• Vulnerable Adults Act and maltreatment mandated reporter training.
• Infection control, standard precautions, and HIPAA training.
• KanTime EMR documentation training prior to independent visits.
• Annual competency updates as required by agency policy and Minnesota home care regulations.
• Ongoing continuing education to maintain active COTA licensure and NBCOT certification.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent travel between client homes; ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 25 pounds frequently, consistent with safe client handling and agency equipment policies.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching; guiding and assisting clients with functional activities and transfers where within role scope.
• Sufficient visual, hearing, and communication ability to observe clients, respond to calls for help, and communicate verbally and in writing.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform therapeutic tasks, adaptive equipment training, and EHR documentation.
• Potential exposure to communicable disease, bloodborne pathogens, household pets, variable home environments, and adverse weather during travel. PPE provided per agency policy.

What We Offer

A rewarding clinical role where you work one-on-one with clients in the comfort of their own homes, helping them regain independence in the activities that matter most to them. Alliance Home Care offers flexible scheduling, a collaborative therapy team, paid training, mileage reimbursement, continuing education support, and opportunities for career growth.

Schedule

Alliance Home Care offers full-time, part-time, and PRN opportunities. Visit schedules and shift expectations vary by case assignment and will be reviewed during the interview process.

Benefits

Alliance Home Care is proud to invest in our team. Eligible employees receive:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid training and continuing education
• Mileage reimbursement
• Employee referral bonuses
• Career growth and advancement opportunities within Alliance Home Care

Benefit eligibility varies based on employment status (full-time, part-time, or PRN) and length of service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Alliance Home Care is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and the clients we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.