GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS JOB DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: PHYSICAL THERAPIST SCHOOL-BASED EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN SERVICES CURRICULUM AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB Under general supervision, provides specialized physical therapy services for eligible school students. The employee receives medical directions as to the specific results to be achieved and then exercises discretion in determining the clinical procedure to follow. Work involves evaluating students to determine need for physical therapy; developing appropriate therapy programs, including routines for classroom and home adaptation; and providing therapy to students. Services include direct service and/or consultation with school staff, families, medical personnel, community agencies, and others as needed. Employee is responsible for documenting planning and treatment activities, documentation of students' progress, documentation for Medicaid billing for all eligible students, and consulting with parents and classroom teachers. Employee is also responsible for modifications of equipment and/or environment.. The employee is expected to resolve most problems that do not require additional medical diagnosis. Employee is responsible for in-service training including scheduling, preparing and presenting to selected groups. Reports to the Executive Director - Exceptional Children Services and/or assigned central office supervisor. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Assesses students using appropriate evaluation tools including standardized tests, clinical observations, and review of medical and educational reports to determine need for therapy intervention plan. Must have the ability to research and determine evidence based research supporting therapy interventions. Develops and implements individualized therapy programs for eligible students. Documents screenings, evaluations, Individual Education Plans, progress reports, classroom/home programs, Medicaid billing criteria and other data, as required. Provides consultation with classroom teacher and other school staff regarding students optimal function in the school environment. Provides classroom programs, instruction in management techniques, adapted equipment, and environmental modifications including the identification of architectural barriers. 1

2 Consults with parents and/or guardians regarding students' therapy programs. Adapts, fabricates and maintains specialized equipment required for therapy services or student needs. Investigates and recommends types of equipment available to meet student needs, funding sources, and vendor options, including insurance forms and letters of justification. Provides in-service training to teachers and other school personnel, as needed; assists with education, orientation and preparation of receiving school staffs and students regarding issues, concerns and information about exceptional children in regular school and classroom programs. Supervises departmental aids and volunteers assigned to the department. Provides clinical education for therapy student interns from colleges and universities. Plans, orders and maintains departmental supplies and equipment; maintains records as required. Travels between locations where students require services. Maintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with State guidelines and school policy. ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS Advises administration and staff regarding: bus travel safety; lifting and carrying techniques; architectural barriers and adapted equipment; oral motor techniques and precautions; medical precautions; and feeding issues. Performs other related work as required. MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Graduation from a four-year accredited program of physical therapy or a master's degree in physical therapy; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT Licensed as a physical therapist by the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy. Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina. 2

3 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Physical Requirements: Must be able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, walkers, standers, seating systems, wheel chairs, canes, crutches, splints, body jackets, gonimeters, etc. Must be able to exert up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work. Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions. Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, medical records, therapy records, Individual Education Plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, charts, workbooks, programs, etc. Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using medical terminology. Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra. Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using adaptive equipment. Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of office machines, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. 3

4 Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress. Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Thorough knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of physical therapy and their proper application in the educational environment. Considerable knowledge of appropriate evaluating tools. Considerable knowledge of the equipment and assistive technology available to use in therapy. Considerable knowledge of current literature, trends and developments in the field of physical therapy and general medicine. Considerable knowledge of feeding issues such as food consistency, oral motor functioning, adaptive equipment and specific feeding techniques. General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration. Skill in directly providing a wide range of treatment activities. Ability to select and administer appropriate assessment and treatment methods. Ability to plan, coordinate and conduct on-the-job training and continuing education for a variety of individuals. Ability to screen, evaluate and provide required physical therapy services. Ability to develop and implement individualized programs. Ability to make decisions that may have medical, orthopedic or neurological implications. Ability to accurately document sessions. Ability to train others in simple therapy principles. 4

5 Ability to maintain adequate inventory of supplies. Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and to develop simple reports from those records. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments. DISCLAIMER The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job. 5