Physical Therapist (PT)

School-based Physical Therapy Practitioners support academic achievement and social participation program by focusing on functional mobility and safe, efficient access and participation in educational programming.

Physical Therapists help children fulfill their role as students and prepare them for further education, employment, independent living by assessing movement and function to promote motor development.

Physical Therapists use therapeutic interventions including compensation, remediation, and prevention strategies and adaptations to improve movement and function. The Physical Therapist focuses on safe efficient access and participation in the educational program for all students.

Qualifications

Education/Certification

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited college or university
• Physical Therapist license in good standing by Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to use the accepted tests and measurements to assess motor disorders and conditions
• Knowledge of evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of motor disorder and conditions
• Ability to instruct and manage student behavior
• Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to use the accepted tests and measurements to assess motor disorders and conditions for school pediatric population
• Determine appropriate treatment plans through evaluations and consultations
• Knowledge of evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of motor disorder and conditions for school pediatric population
• Ability to instruct and manage student behavior
• Consult and collaborate with professionals, parents, students
• Provide direct treatment for IEP
• Interact constructively in a varieties of cultures, families, socio-economic groups
• Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to treat student in care and evaluate their specific needs to provide an action plane with personal goals or objectives
• Carefully transcribing all services provided
• Strive for professional development and timely completion of duties
• Provide training for the use of equipment
• Knowledge of computer systems and software applications
• Organizational, analytical and communication
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, maintain accurate and audible records.

Experience

• One year in a school setting/pediatric preferred
• Current Valid driver’s license
• Current valid insurance
• One-year experience as a Physical Therapist in a school setting

Duties and Responsibilities

Therapy

• Collaborate with the student, family, and Special Education staff to determine goals
• Plan and provide appropriate individual and group therapy to students consistent with therapy goals contained in Individual Education Plans (IEP)
• Evaluate student progress and determine readiness for termination of therapy services
• Coordinate physical therapy interventions within the school program
• Select, modify, or customize adaptive equipment and assistive technology

Assessment

• Conduct individual evaluations to assess students with motor disorders and conditions to determine eligibility for services
• Interpret observations or data to develop clinical management strategies or procedures and diagnostic statements according to DAS procedures.
• Participate in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee to assist in interpretation of assessment, data, appropriate placement, and goal setting for students eligible for Physical Therapy services according to DAS procedures.

Consultation

• Instruction of school personnel and families to promote inclusion of students within the educational experience by developing, demonstrating, training, and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions
• Instruction of caregivers in the physical management of students including: safe lifting, positioning, assisted ambulation, gross motor programs, vocational tasks, leisure activities, and/or equipment use
• Provide professional development in assigned schools to help school personnel identify and understand student deficits
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and parents regarding needs of the student, student progress or mastery of therapy goals

Student Management

• Create an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the maturity level and interests of students
• Seek assistance form school personnel to establish and administer discipline according to the school Student Code of Conduct

Program Management

• Supervise Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) as required
• Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of Physical Therapist services and make changes based on the findings
• Assist in the selection of equipment and instructional materials

Administration

• Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other required documents
• Comply with policies established by federal and state laws, State Board of Education rule and board policy
• Comply with all district and campus routines and regulations
• Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment

Supervisor Responsibilities

May direct and monitor work of Physical Therapy Assistant(s)

Work Demands

Mental Demands

Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and write); interpret policy, procedures, and data, maintain emotional control under stress

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

Frequent travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing and pulling. Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds. Prolonged use of computer and repetitive hand motions.

Must Service the Following Territory

Zip Codes - San Antonio Area

**Additional responsibilities as assigned.