Physical Therapist - CAPS Collaborative

CAPS Collaborative is seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic physical therapist to join our team of dedicated professionals. This candidate would provide school-based services for students aged 3-22 in our collaborative programs and/or public school systems. The candidate would also be responsible for supervising physical therapist assistants and completing and writing evaluations, goals and progress reports as a member of a Special Education Team. CAPS Collaborative case loads are typically smaller and more manageable than in other environments.

About us:

CAPS Collaborative will work in partnership with districts to provide programs and services of the highest quality. To provide these services, we adhere to the following values:

• To commit every aspect of the organization to providing exceptional educational opportunities for students.
• To demonstrate quality and responsiveness by becoming the first choice of districts for programs and services.
• To be a customer-focused organization that constantly evaluates district needs.
• To integrate quality, integrity, respect, and teamwork into every aspect of the organization.
• To demonstrate accountability through constantly evaluating results and progress toward goals.
• To implement programs and services in the most cost-effective manner and to exercise due diligence in financial decision making.
• We will work in partnership with districts to ensure that students transition to the least restrictive environment in their home school district.

About the role:

Provide quality physical therapy services, including assessment, intervention, program planning and implementation, discharge planning and communication. Service provision includes both direct and consultative approaches.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student performance, strengths, and needs through evaluation, educational program planning and service delivery.
• Perform screenings and evaluations through a variety of functional, behavioral and standardized assessments, checklists, skilled observation, review of records, and interviews.
• Assess and make environmental, seating, mobility, and positioning adaptations to allow students to access and benefit from the educational environment.
• Coordinate and participate in equipment and orthotic clinics and provide necessary documentation to third-party payers.
• Synthesizes evaluation results into a comprehensive written report which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment; directs program development; and guides evidence-based intervention.
• Develops evidence-based intervention plans based on student needs and evaluation results.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrate findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individual education plans and intervention plans to achieve IEP goals.
• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and improved mobility within the school environment.
• Consults with the school-based team to achieve student outcomes.
• Provide training to special education teachers and paraprofessional staff, and others as appropriate, to promote carryover of activities, positioning, and adapting designed to enhance the student's access to and participation in the classroom and school environment.
• Educates students, educational personnel, and family to facilitate skills in areas of mobility and motor development as well as health maintenance and safety.
• Monitors and reassess the effects of physical therapy intervention and the need to continue, modify or discontinue intervention.
• Documents physical therapy services to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standards for reimbursement of services as appropriate.
• Prioritizes and schedules work tasks independently.
• Maintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with professional standards, state guidelines, and agency requirements.
• Provides legal and ethical supervision of physical therapist assistants according to state guidelines.
• Supervises non-physical therapy support personnel.
• Adheres to federal and state legislation, regulation, and policies that affect physical therapy practice.
• Teaches, monitors, and collaborates with educational personnel, community agencies, parents and students to increase understanding of the student's performance.
• Provides continuing education and in-services for educational personnel, parents and community-based service providers as requested.
• Provides clinical education and supervision for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students.
• Participates in continuing education opportunities to ensure best practice.
• Utilizes professional literature, evidence-based research and continuing education content to make practice decisions.
• Uses the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and the Guide for Professional Conduct to guide ethical decision making in practice.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ensure student/staff confidentiality as appropriate within the educational Team
• Contribute to professional growth and collaboration by staying informed on current literature/resources in the field and actively participating in staff meetings and professional development opportunities

Candidate requirements:

• Licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professionals.
• Function according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and the Guide for Professional Conduct.
• Have knowledge and understanding of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).
• Understand the special education process and the role of the physical therapist in the educational environment.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds multiple times during the work day.
• Ability to frequently carry items weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time.
• Ability to squat, bend, kneel, reach, jump, and run as needed throughout the work day.
• Strong management, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and seek appropriate resources and support.