POSITION: Physical Therapist Hours: 8:30am – 3:00 pm; Thursday 8:30am – 4:00pm

• 10-month position
• 182 days Calendar
• Plus 2 parent meetings (evenings)
• 6 weeks summer program is available and based upon school need: part time or full time option will be considered upon application.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead the process in development, implementation, and coordination of the school’s physical therapy program. Assessment, screening, an educational program, therapeutic intervention, and exit planning are provided for students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with their ability to function in the classroom. Professional judgment and clinical knowledge are used to develop programming based on physical performance deficits in the areas of personal care, the student’s role in school, interaction skills, process skills, play and graphic communication. The physical therapist regularly collaborates with other disciplines. The physical therapist is expected to independently review outcomes, provide assessments and screenings and modify goals and objectives.

SERVICE DELIVERY

• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and physical performance within the school environment.
• Consults with the school-based team to achieve student outcomes.
• Adapts and modifies the environment including assistive technology and training instructional staff to meet individual needs and to help students function as independently as possible.
• Educates student, educational personnel, and family to facilitate skills in areas of physical therapy as well as health maintenance and safety.
• Monitors and reassess the effect of physical therapy intervention and the need to continue, modify, or discontinue intervention.
• Performs assessment and screenings as needed.
• Performs initial evaluations as needed.
• Documents physical therapy service to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

• Prioritize and schedules work task independently.
• Manage inventory of therapeutic equipment and assessments, and projects needs for budget planning.
• Maintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with professional standards, state guidelines, and school system policy.
• Adheres to federal and state legislation, regulation, and policies that affect physical therapy practice.
• Reviews physical therapy services for quality improvement and makes changes as needed to ensure quality of service.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Have successfully completed and graduated from an accredited physical therapy professional program recognized by American Physical Therapy Association in Physical Therapy (APTA) and have completed all fieldwork requirements.
• NYS Certification as Physical Therapist
• Knowledge of infant/child development
• Knowledge of Sign Language (preferred, not required)

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND ETHICS:

• Participates in continuing education for professional development to ensure practice consistent with best practice and the meet NYS Licensure requirements.
• Uses Professional literature, evidence based research, and continued education content to make practice decisions.
• Uses professional Code of Ethics and standards of practice to guide ethical decision making practice.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Treatment of Deaf children
• Use of best practices
• Use pediatric treatment methodology for clients including but not limited to Developmental, recreational and play "therapy", Adaptation of daily care activities to a child's special needs, Manual manipulation and other physical therapy techniques, Breathing training and motor learning.
• Knowledge working with Deaf (preferred)
• Knowledge working with children on autism spectrum
• Prior experience with sensory integration
• Knowledge of orthosis, and basic pediatric equipment
• Working knowledge of pediatric clients ages 3 to 15
• Use array of techniques to treat musculoskeletal, developmental delay, motor planning and neurologic conditions

• Completion of a supervised pediatric clinical
• Experience working with the pediatric population
• Comfortable with EMR system (Frontline)
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral
• Design and implement individual treatment plans in regards to the school setting
• Work to improve children's motor development, strength, range of motion, endurance, balance, coordination, gait difficulties, heart and lung endurance, and motor delays.
• Designing, fitting and using assistive technology, orthotics and prosthetics
• Assess and revise treatment plans to strengthen student’s independence
• Maintain communication with team and family as appropriate
• Develop home exercises programs when applicable
• Provide school wide consultation to teachers and staff members
• Occasional coordination of care with community medical professionals
• Maintain daily logs
• Complete IEP updates and modifications
• Complete timely progress reports
• Self-starter, able to work independently with minimal direction