Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

DEFINITION

To provide a comprehensive physical therapy program to children from birth through age three including conults and intervention through the use of the coaching model of therapy. All carryover strategies are modeled by the therapy for the family to practice during family routines and play. This model promotes developmental growth in the child’s natural environment. Services are provided in either the home, daycare or community setting. Once the child meets their Outcome or turns three, they are discharged. If a child is three and qualifies for additional IU supports they are transitioned to the IU. Therapy services follow the Rules and Regulations Governing Services to Children with Disabilities under the IDEA Act.  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receive direction from management at Connective Intervention Services, LLC and via the County.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Important and essential duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Provide gross motor/body mechanic training and services to children and families; provide direct therapy sessions within the child’s home, community setting and/or other environment in order to meet the needs of the child and/or family.
2. Coach families in the provision of intervention strategies to maximize their child’s function within their daily routine. 
3. Actively participate in the Early Intervention Team; converse with other staff members as necessary to ensure effective service delivery and communication.
4. Counsel and assist families/care providers in understanding their child's developmental levels and therapy program for effective carryover into the home and community.
5. Complete and maintain necessary paperwork/case documentation to ensure accountability. Remain up to date with annual county training requirements and maintain a log of completed requirements.
6. Actively pursue current trends in physical therapy and state of the art techniques in early intervention services.
7. Assist in writing goals and objectives for grant applications; compile necessary information for end-of-year grant reports.
8. Provide professional presentations to individuals or groups as needed.
9. Complete consultations for children who may be in need of physical therapy services as requested by the service coordinator; compile findings and recommendations; develop an intervention plan and do progress reports in coordination with the Team and the family in order to meet the needs of the child; coordinate screening of related service personnel as deemed appropriate.
10. Adhere to safe work practices and procedures.
11. Attend and participate in staff/county meetings and related activities; attend workshops, conferences, and classes to increase professional knowledge; serve on committees as assigned. The 24 hours of training must be completed each year as outlined in the state’s Rules and Regulations.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Developmental stages and milestones
• Typical and atypical child development
• Principles and practices of physical therapy
• Medical conditions and disabilities affecting children and their development
• Early childhood coaching and teaching techniques and practices
• Early behavioral coaching and techniques
• Pennsylvania Rules and Regulations governing services to children with disabilities
• Pennsylvania Act 212 of 1990
• Early Intervention Services System Act
• Pennsylvania Early Intervention Services, Chapter 4226
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.
• Interpersonal skills in order to work with families and children regarding unique and sensitive issues
• Principles and practices of working safely

Skill to:

• Operate a motor vehicle safely
• Use technology dependently

Ability to:

• Adapt teaching and coaching techniques to meet each child and family’s needs
• Work effectively with young children and their families
• Maintain licensure requirements
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals
• Supervise the work of assigned college students when taking them on to mentor
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new methods, procedures, and techniques
• Will use equitable practice across settings
• Will use diverse practices to ensure each family’s culture is recognized and respected
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with other early interventionist, service coordinators and families
• Communicate effectively and regularly with the early intervention team to ensure no duplication of services are occurring including; other interventionists working with the family, child and service coordinator
• Complete paperwork using the web-based platform identifying by the state, county, school or agency 

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES:

Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying

Experience:

• Preference for pediatric physical therapy

Education/Training:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, OR REGISTRATIONS:

Must be current or obtained within a specified time frame as defined upon employment.

• Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy State Licensure
• Valid driver's license
• CPR/First Aid certification

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Essential duties require the following:

Working Environment:

• Moderate exposure to undesirable working conditions and potential exposure to body fluids
• Working in homes and daycares
• Potential for working outdoors and in community settings

Physical Activities:

• Essential functions require maintaining physical condition necessary for moderate amounts of sitting, standing, walking, running, kneeling, sitting on the floor, crouching/stooping/squatting, crawling, twisting upper body, climbing, and lifting an average of 45 lbs.
• Being able to transport yourself to each client’s home, daycare or community location

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.