Job Title: Therapist, Physical
Job Code & Family: #86578, Allied Health
Revision Date: 11/24/2014
Salary Plan & Pay Grade: Support 413
EEO Code: 002
Comp Reviewed By: Grant Funded?
10 month
JOBSUMMARY & PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS
REPORTS TO: Lead, Occupational/Physical Therapy Services
DEPARTMENT NAME: Exceptional Education – Related Services
JOB SUMMARY (2-3 sentences): The school Physical Therapist will be responsible for the evaluation and/or therapy services in support of the educational needs of the student and integrated throughout the learning environment. Areas of knowledge include but are not limited to mechanical physiological and developmental impairments, understanding of orthotics, protective and supportive equipment and child development. Collaboration and communication with other disciplines and family members is essential in establishing appropriate goals, adaptations, modifications and assistive technological support for the students to enable them to meet their educational needs. The Physical Therapist is responsible for working in compliance with the State of Tennessee Practice Act for Physical Therapy, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other legal mandates.
PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS: List, in the order of time spent, the essential tasks performed by the position. Employees may be assigned additional duties by management as required:
- Direct treatment to students using a variety of appropriate frames of reference: physical, developmental, environmental, technological and mechanical.
- Evaluation of the student’s performance including mechanical physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations, and disability or other health and movement-related conditions to determine a physical therapy treatment diagnosis.
- Assess neuromotor status including joint range of motion, strength, endurance, muscle tone, coordination, quality of movement and abnormal reflexes interfering with functional skills.
- Assess the need for adaptive devices to promote independence in gross motor, self-care, and other areas related to school performance.
- Document therapy data in support of goal acquisition; document evaluations, therapy attendance, treatment notes, consultation with teachers, staff, and caregivers to write up present levels and curriculum based goals. Document treatment for purposes of Medicaid billing when appropriate.
- Train staff for safe handling and care of students, including use of a variety of positioning equipment: standers, changing tables, wheelchairs.
- Attend interdisciplinary meetings on student’s behalf.
- Understanding of the differences and similarities of school based vs. clinically based Physical Therapy and the role that the therapist has as support to the school and the student’s ability to access their free and appropriate education.
- Assessment, documentation, and participation with IEP team members in determining eligibility, specifically as it relates to Orthopedic Impairment and Developmental Delay.
- Provide direct supervision of Physical Therapy Assistants in accordance with the State of Tennessee Practice Act for Physical Therapy.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND IMPACTS
DATA RESPONSIBILITY: Keeps accurate, current data on each student’s progress with stated IEP goals in order to make informed reports, determinations of progress and appropriate goals. Basic computer skills absolutely required.
PEOPLE RESPONSIBILITY: Instructs or trains others through explanation, demonstration, and supervised practice, or by making recommendations on the basis of technical disciplines.
ASSETS RESPONSIBILITY: Requires the ability to log inventory correctly, to keep records up to date on inventory, equipment, evaluation measures.
MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS: Uses addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; may compute ratios, rates, and percentages. Be able to understand, interpret and explain statistical analysis from standardized testing.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: Keeps up to date by reading current information in journals and manuals; composes specialized evaluations, reports using proper format and grammar; speaks to groups of coworkers and people outside the organization. Must be able to present data at IEP meetings to coworkers and parents and to be sensitive to a multitude of cultures.
COMPLEXITY OF WORK: Performs work involving the application of logical principles and thinking to solve practical problems within or applying to a unit or division of the organization; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressure. Requires equal measures of common sense and medical training coupled with the ability to explain complex clinical reasoning in layman terms.
IMPACT OF DECISIONS: Makes decisions with serious impact - affecting most levels in organization.
EQUIPMENT USAGE: Establishes methods and procedures for acquiring and handling positioning equipment, tools, assistive technology or work aids involving extensive latitude for judgment regarding attainment of standard or in selecting appropriate items.
SAFETY OF OTHERS: Physical Therapists work with children who have profound physical needs requiring careful supervision for the child’s health and well-being.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Minimum: B.S. in Physical Therapy with a Masters or Doctorate preferred.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED: All practicing Physical Therapists are required to maintain a Tennessee License from the Tennessee Board of Health.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Experience within the field of Pediatric school based Physical Therapy is preferred. New graduates who have displayed a unique set of skills, who have sought fieldwork experience in Pediatrics and who have a history of either work or volunteer experience with children who have special needs will be given strong consideration for the position.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES REQUIREMENTS
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Therapist may be required to lift 50 pounds when transferring a physically involved student. The job of school based Physical Therapy is a physically demanding job requiring the ability to carry equipment in and out of schools on a regular basis, to walk throughout schools, transition from floor to seat while treating a student, and occasionally assist staff to follow CPI guidelines preventing a student from hurting themselves or others.
UNAVOIDABLE HAZARDS: Therapists may work with students who can have volatile behaviors. Universal precautions required.
SENSORY (ADA) REQUIREMENTS: The position requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing, and speaking. Position is an itinerant placement and requires the ability to drive a car.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires MNPS to provide adequate accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Qualifications
Qualifications See Job Description.
