Director the Physical Therapy

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Physical Therapy provides strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management for the Physical Therapy Department serving children and adults residing in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). The program includes approximately 100 licensed residential beds (88 pediatric and 12 adult).

The Director is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based physical therapy services that promote mobility, positioning, functional independence, health, safety, participation, and quality of life for individuals with medically complex conditions and developmental disabilities.

This position supervises a department of approximately eight team members, including Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and support personnel. The Director maintains compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, professional practice requirements, and organizational policies while serving as an active member of the interdisciplinary leadership team.

The Director collaborates closely with Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Medical Providers, Recreation Therapy, QIDPs, and Direct Support Professionals to ensure coordinated, person-centered care.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Department Management:

• Provides overall leadership and management of the Physical Therapy Department.
• Establishes departmental goals, priorities, quality improvement initiatives, quarterly and annual objectives.
• Supervises physical therapy staff members.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, mentors, develops, and retains qualified PT department personnel.
• Conducts performance evaluations and provides ongoing coaching, education, and professional development.
• Oversees staff scheduling, workload distribution, productivity, and caseload assignments.
• Ensures adequate staffing to meet resident needs.
• Works closely with the Sr. Director of Therapeutic Services to develop departmental budget and monitors expenditures.
• Oversees purchasing, inventory, maintenance, and replacement of therapy equipment.
• Maintains departmental policies, procedures, competency assessments, and clinical protocols.
• Leads regular departmental meetings.
• Promotes employee engagement and a collaborative work environment.

Clinical Leadership:

• Oversees all physical therapy services provided throughout the residential program.
• Ensures evaluations, treatment plans, documentation, and services meet professional standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains a clinical caseload.
• Provides consultation for medically complex residents with significant orthopedic, neurological, developmental, and mobility needs.
• Reviews and updates plans of care and fall risk assessments as required by regulation and organizational policy.
• Provides clinical supervision for Physical Therapist Assistants in accordance with Virginia law and APTA standards.
• Ensures therapy interventions support resident-centered outcomes and Individual Program Plans (IPPs).
• Oversees positioning, mobility, transfer techniques, gait training, therapeutic exercise, orthopedic management, contracture prevention, and equipment recommendations.
• Assists with discharge planning and transition services.

Direct Resident Care:

Maintains clinical competency through direct treatment and consultation by:

• Completing comprehensive physical therapy and fall risk evaluations.
• Developing individualized treatment plans.
• Establishing measurable functional goals.
• Providing skilled therapeutic interventions.
• Monitoring resident progress.
• Updating treatment plans based upon clinical outcomes.
• Completing reassessments as required.
• Participating in admissions and pre-admission screenings.
• Completing discharge evaluations and recommendations.
• Providing consultations regarding positioning, transfers, mobility, and adaptive equipment.
• Performing Hoyer lift assessments and transfer recommendations. Monitoring and managing sling status.
• Supporting orthopedic and post-surgical rehabilitation needs.
• Oversees the operation of specialty clinics including orthopedic, and PM&R.

Regulatory Compliance:

Ensures departmental compliance with:

• CMS Conditions of Participation.
• ICF/IID regulations.
• Virginia Department of Health and Department of Behavioral Health requirements.
• Virginia Board of Physical Therapy Practice Act.
• APTA Standards of Practice.
• HIPAA.
• OSHA.
• Infection Prevention standards.
• Life Safety requirements.
• Organizational policies and procedures.

Staff Education and Competency:

Develops and oversees departmental education programs. Provides education regarding:

• Safe resident handling.
• Positioning.
• Range of motion.
• Hoyer lift use.
• Fall prevention.
• Equipment safety.
• Contracture prevention.
• Mobility techniques.
• Resident-specific therapeutic programs.

Maintains competency records and annual education requirements.

Clinical Education Program:

Serves as the department's Clinical Education Coordinator or designee.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating PT and PTA student clinical affiliations.
• Maintaining affiliation agreements with universities.
• Developing student orientation materials.
• Assigning Clinical Instructors.
• Monitoring student performance.
• Completing required evaluations.
• Participating in academic site visits.
• Maintaining positive relationships with educational institutions.

Equipment Management:

Responsible for:

• Therapy equipment inventory.
• Preventive maintenance.
• Equipment replacement planning.
• Adaptive equipment recommendations.
• Standing devices.
• Positioning systems.
• Gait trainers.
• Orthotics coordination.
• Safe equipment use education.

Quality Improvement:

Leads departmental quality initiatives through:

• Documentation audits.
• Outcome measurement.
• Performance improvement projects.
• Incident review.
• Safe patient handling initiatives.
• Regulatory readiness.
• Clinical practice review.
• Data analysis.
• Performance metrics.
• Other duties as assigned.

CONDUCT & VALUES

• Demonstrate kindness, patience, and compassion in all interactions.
• Collaborate effectively with all team members and leaders.
• Approach challenges with creativity, professionalism, and a positive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Model St. Mary’s values of kindness, fun, compassion, collaboration, engagement, and person-centered care in all aspects of work.
• Consistently uphold the standards of the organization by following all policies and procedures.
• Work in a prompt and efficient manner.
• Attend all mandatory training sessions and complete mandatory training prior to the deadline.

Education:

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) preferred. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Physical Therapy accepted if licensed and meeting Virginia practice requirements. Graduation from an accredited Physical Therapy program.

Licensure:

Current unrestricted Virginia Physical Therapy License.

Experience:

Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible clinical physical therapy experience. Minimum five (5) years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.

Experience working with:

• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Individuals with developmental disabilities
• Medically fragile populations
• Neurological disorders
• Orthopedic rehabilitation
• Wheelchair seating and positioning
• Residential healthcare preferred

Experience in an ICF/IID, pediatric rehabilitation hospital, long-term care, or similar setting is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Pediatric and adult neurodevelopmental treatment
• Mobility and positioning systems
• Orthopedic management
• Seating and wheelchair evaluations
• Spasticity management
• Adaptive equipment
• Regulatory compliance
• Quality improvement
• Budget management
• Personnel management

Ability to:

• Lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Manage multiple priorities.
• Exercise sound clinical judgment.
• Communicate effectively with families and interdisciplinary staff.
• Resolve conflict professionally.
• Analyze clinical outcomes.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to:

• Frequently stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and transfer residents.
• Lift, push, pull, and reposition residents utilizing safe patient handling techniques.
• Demonstrate mobility sufficient to provide therapy interventions.
• Utilize mechanical lifts and adaptive equipment.
• Perform repetitive physical activities throughout the workday.
• Work in clinical, educational, and residential environments.

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