Physical Therapist

Company Overview: 

Shrub Oak International School (SOIS) is a therapeutic day and residential school for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with complex co-occurring conditions. Located in northern Westchester County, Shrub Oak offers unparalleled educational opportunities for autistic students in a family-centric, supportive environment. We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of students across the spectrum, and our curriculum is based on the most advanced and successful evidence-based clinical and academic approaches in ASD education. 

As a school, SOIS maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees, and community. We are a residential school located on a scenic 127-acre campus, which includes multiple buildings and a working farm for student programming. The work environment will include both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Who We Are: 

SOIS is a community of dedicated professionals who work together to find meaning with and for our students. We strive to make every day memorable in positive ways and to manage students’ difficulties as a team. We are accountable, timely, and show up whenever needed to support our students and each other.

We are guided day-to-day by our four core principles.

• We Care 

• We are Innovative 

• We are Collaborative 

• We are Resourceful 

Our Clinical Practice Model: 

Clinical Services at Shrub Oak International Schooloperateswithin a fully integrated interdisciplinary model of care. While each clinician practices within the scope of their professional discipline, all clinical team members share responsibility for assessment, treatment planning, staff consultation, family partnership, crisis response, and quality improvement. We value collaboration, mutual respect, share clinical decision-making, and reflective practice, recognizing that meaningful student outcomes are achieved through the integration of diverse professional perspectives. Team members are expected to contribute their discipline-specific expertise while remaining open to learning from colleagues, sharing responsibility for student outcomes, and engaging in ongoing reflective practice. 

Benefits: (check for FT, PT or All) 

• Reduced Cost Meals every shift on site (All) 

• Employee assistance program (EAP) (All) 

• Insurance coverage: Health, vision, dental, life, supplemental and pet insurance (FT) 

• Flexible spending account (FSA) (FT) 

• Generous Paid time off (PTO) (FT) 

• 401k w/company match (FT) 

• Tuition/Professional development assistance (FT) 

Who You Are: 

• You have a passion for working with the autism population and ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff.

• You are a collaborative, relationship-centered licensed physical therapist with experience supporting autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with developmental, neuromuscular, and physical needs.

• You are skilled in conducting comprehensive assessments and developing individualized, evidence-informed therapy programs that maximize mobility, physical function, independence, and access across academic, residential, and community environments.

• You utilize student-centered, evidence-informed approaches to improve mobility, strength, coordination, functional independence, and participation in daily activities.

• You are comfortable integrating therapeutic strategies into classroom, residential, and daily living routines.

• You collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including clinicians, educators, residential staff, and families, recognizing that mobility, access, safety, and participation are fundamental to student success.

• You are experienced in recommending and utilizing adaptive equipment and assistive technology to support student success.

• You value reflective practice, clinical excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous professional growth.

• You remain calm, analytical, and solutions-focused when supporting students with complex needs.

• You demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion when working with confidential student information.

• You are adaptable and able to manage responsibilities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• You get the job done and are capable of strategic thinking while simultaneously rolling up your sleeves to support students and staff.

• You have strong written communication skills, specifically involving documentation, progress notes, and clinical reporting. 

Job Responsibilities: 

Clinical Practice 

• Conduct comprehensive physical therapy evaluations and re-evaluations addressing mobility, balance, strength, endurance, coordination, posture, gait, and functional movement. 

• Develop and implement individualized, evidence-informed treatment plans aligned with each student's strengths, needs, and goals. 

• Provide individual and group physical therapy services within a transdisciplinary model of care. 

• Assess, recommend, implement, and monitor adaptive equipment, positioning strategies, mobility supports, and environmental modifications that promote safety and independence. 

• Monitor student progress using clinical observation, outcome measures, and ongoing data collection, modifying treatment plans as appropriate. 

• Promote functional mobility, motor development, endurance, physical access, self-advocacy, and participation across educational, residential, vocational, community, and family settings. 

• Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically meaningful documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards. 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration 

• Participate in interdisciplinary assessment, treatment planning, and Individualized Transdisciplinary Education Plans (ITEPs). 

• Collaborate with Mental Health, Behavior Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Nursing, Psychiatry, Education, Residential, and other team members. 

• Provide consultation to staff to promote the generalization of physical therapy strategies across settings. 

• Participate in admissions, quarterly reviews, transition planning, and discharge planning. 

Family Partnership 

• Partner with families through consultation, education, and ongoing communication regarding student progress and physical therapy strategies. 

• Support the generalization of functional mobility and physical skills across home, school, residential, and community environments. 

Systems Consultation & Staff Development 

• Provide coaching and consultation to educational, residential, and clinical staff regarding positioning, transfers, mobility support, adaptive equipment, and safe movement strategies. 

• Support staff in understanding physical access needs, motor planning, endurance, and environmental adaptations that maximize student participation and safety. 

• Participate in professional development and contribute discipline-specific expertise to organizational learning. 

Crisis Prevention & Clinical Risk 

• Participate in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) and other required safety training. 

• Support students during behavioral crises by recommending safe positioning, mobility, and environmental strategies that promote safety and recovery. 

Professional Responsibilities 

• Participate in reflective supervision, quality improvement initiatives, chart audits, and departmental meetings. 

• Provide supervision to interns or trainees when appropriate. 

• Complete required professional development and maintain all mandatory certifications. 

• Model ethical, professional, and relationship-centered practice. 

• Maintain discipline-specific licensure, certification, and professional competencies. 

• Maintain accurate, timely, and clinically meaningful documentation. 

• Comply with all organizational policies, regulatory requirements, confidentiality standards, and mandated reporting responsibilities. 

• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning. 

Please note: This job description is not a comprehensive list of tasks or responsibilities. Specific assignments can change within the relevant field and training of your position, with or without notice. 

Position Requirements: 

• Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from an accredited program required. 

• Minimum of 1 year of pediatric experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities required. 

• Strong knowledge of physical therapy principles and application within educational or residential settings. 

• Experience with evaluation tools, therapeutic techniques, and adaptive equipment. 

• Ability to assess, develop, and implement individualized treatment plans. 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including clinical documentation and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. 

• Ability to train staff in therapeutic carryover techniques. 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while supporting students with complex needs. 

• Ability to get TCIS trained and complete/maintain all required training. 

• You must be able to ambulate around the campus, including hills, stairs, grass and gravel.

  • Must be able to react and move quickly during student crisis, both for the safety of the student and for the staff. 

  • Must be able to run across the campus and throughout the school to catch/monitor an eloping student, and/or to remove yourself from an unsafe situation. 

• You must be able to pass TCIS (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training for Schools). 

• You must be able to bend, stretch, sit, stand, crouch or kneel for sustained periods of time if implementing a hold. 

Competencies: 

Clinical: 

• Physical therapy assessment and intervention 

• Mobility, strength, and coordination development 

• Treatment planning and functional goal setting 

• Use of adaptive equipment and assistive technology 

• Data collection and progress monitoring 

• CPR 

• First Aid 

Behavioral: 

• Physical therapy assessment and intervention 

• Mobility, strength, and coordination development 

• Treatment planning and functional goal setting 

• Use of adaptive equipment and assistive technology 

• Data collection and progress monitoring 

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training for Schools (TCIS) 

Collaboration & Communication: 

• Interdisciplinary teamwork 

• Family and caregiver communication 

• Staff consultation 

• Professional documentation and reporting 

Safety & Compliance: 

• Confidentiality and ethical practice 

• Adherence to clinical and regulatory standards 

• Safe use of therapeutic equipment and environments 

• TCIS and safety protocol implementation 

• Accurate and timely documentation 

• Mandated Reporter Training 
  
   

EEO Statement: 

Shrub Oak is an equal employment opportunity employer. Shrub Oak International School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodation can be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for a job or to perform the essential functions of their job. Requests may be approved if the position/department/school/students will not be adversely affected. Please advise us if you require a reasonable accommodation.