Physical Therapist PK/Elementary - Long Term Substitute (estimated 8 weeks)
Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution that includes academic and clinical preparation.
Massachusetts Board of Registry Licensure as a Physical Therapist
Knowledge of:
- Medical diagnoses and disabilities that would result in a need for Physical Therapy
- Connections between physical disabilities, injuries, and conditions with environments, treatment, and educational aspects of student programs
- Intervention, treatment, equipment options to meet needs of various age and physical levels
- Documentation regarding treatment plans, Individual Education Plans, student goal writing, progress monitoring and assessment tools, online resources, Medicaid reimbursement through school services, MA Board of Registry licensing requirements
- Care and selection of equipment, modifications, and accommodations used to address gross motor needs and skill development of students
- Body positioning and training of adults interacting with students with gross motor disability needs
- Ability to:
- Implement physical therapy educational treatment plans as needed within the educational settings at a variety of school buildings and school playground structures
- Conduct initial, annual, and three year re-evaluation assessments of students referred for special education from preschool through high school grades
- Consult and collaborate with school-based multi-disciplinary special education and related school service teams, as well as with external agencies and parents/guardians to assist in the implementation of educational physical therapy services both direct and indirect
Consult and collaborate with school staff regarding environmental accommodations, modifications, and other architectural barriers to allow for access to school facilities and educational opportunities, as well as to problem solve challenges so students are able to be active participants in their education within their school setting
Communicate through email, phone call, written documents, virtual platform if available within the school setting, and other technology platforms
Travel between schools, and to/from student homes within the Barnstable public school system to carry necessary equipment/ materials to meet student needs of both homebound and on-site caseload students'Prepare therapeutic materials, classroom accommodations, and therapy space for student use
Reports to: Director of Special Education
Job Goal(s): To provide students, with identified disabilities in the area(s) of physical/ sensory/ and/or cognitive disabilities, with services and support as identified on their individualized special education or 504 accommodation plans with the accountability in the areas of assessment, direct student services, indirect services related to equipment/staff training/ parent consult, interagency collaboration, and documentation.
Performance Responsibilities:
Collaborate and communicate with various school staff to arrange student schedules for services between multiple buildings and service providers, therapy work space, and appropriate times to access motor activity practice opportunities (such as stair and playground equipment use) Storage, repurposing, and changing locations of physical therapy equipment (storage areas in our buildings, moving equipment to schools that need it) Providing and ordering (when needed) equipment to specialized substantially separate programs, special ed classrooms or general ed classrooms. (stools, Rifton chairs, alternative seating solutions, trampolines, therapy balls, therapy mats, mirrors, sensorimotor equipment as needed) Consultation with PE and APE, recess staff in addition to teaching staff and paraprofessionals Consult with outside agencies as applicable. Build positive relationships with paraprofessional and teaching staff to practice and reinforce physical therapy objectives throughout the day. Model therapy techniques to special ed staff, consult with each for specific carryover Develop and provide home exercise programs, recommendations, summer activity ideas for families (may include researching and selecting virtual options for homebound or extended school closure) Help families access extracurricular activities, outpatient programs, home equipment, proper footwear/inserts or other recommended items for carryover as needed or requested Conduct evaluations and observations with report writing inclusive of data and recommendations, of in-school students, incoming early intervention students, or homebound students Review independent and private evaluations from an educational perspective Assist in planning for access for students to participate in assemblies, field trips, field days, etc Home/school communication including email, virtual meeting, log book, and/or telephone use Actively participate and complete tasks related to the Individual Education Program process, inclusive of writing IEP components and progress reports using district's online platform and contributing during IEP, 504 plan, and other parent/staff meetings Contribute to determining needs and adjustments, from the physical therapy perspective, to existing and new programs with a focus on student enrollment population changes over time and facilities Terms of Employment: Estimated 8 week long term substitute position.
Physical Requirements:
Candidate must be able to sit, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, and support students in their physical movements from floor to/from chair. Candidate must be able to physically engage in transitioning students between student physical equipment such as wheelchair to stander or stroller to walker. Candidate must be able to climb stairs, walk, jump rope, skip, and gallop as a model for students. Candidate must be able to drive between schools on a daily basis, type on a technology device, and lift/push/pull equipment weighing less than 30 pounds into position for student use. Barnstable Public Schools is an EOE and strongly encourages minority candidates to apply.
