PHYSICAL THERAPIST*

Physical Therapist

The school-centered Physical Therapist is responsible for providing physical therapy services to exceptional students. The therapist will treat individual students or groups of students at one or more schools, carry out evaluations, write goals and objectives, and complete treatment plans on students. In addition, the Physical Therapist will provide supervision to Physical Therapist Assistants, and will carry out duties set forth by the supervisor of the occupational and physical therapy program.

Job tasks/responsibilities include conducting formalized initial evaluations of students, establishing realistic short-term and long-term treatment goals, planning and implementing appropriate treatment programs, developing plans for modifying the classroom/school environment, conferring periodically with managing physicians, sharing student-status information with Occupational Therapists, providing instruction in treatment procedures, providing families with information and support, preparing and keeping current all necessary records, keeping personal physical therapy knowledge and skills current, overseeing the performance of assigned Licensed Physical Therapist Assistants, ensuring that records are current and treatment program is effective, assuming responsibility for the co-signing of treatment summaries, providing information regarding equipment that would enhance treatment, observing professional and medical ethics, coordinating maintenance of cardex file, student's daily attendance, and ensuring that all physician's prescriptions and related medical data are kept current and up to date, assisting in orientation and training of new department personnel, participating in DCPS inservice training programs, maintaining clinic area and equipment daily, coordinating and/or assisting in preparation of materials for student use, and performing related work as required or assigned by supervising administrator or designee.

Physical requirements include climbing, balancing, bending, stooping, crouching, crawling, twisting, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing wheelchairs, pulling, lifting and positioning students, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity. The work is performed indoors and outdoors.

Minimum qualification requirements include evidence of successful completion of both academic and clinical requirements for graduation from an approved curriculum in physical therapy, current licensure as a Physical Therapist by Florida State Department of Professional Regulation, experience in pediatric setting is preferred, and a personal vehicle is required as travel to more than one work location per day may be necessary to provide physical therapy services to students.

Application requirements include personal information, current resume and work history, certification information, and two professional references. Background screening for the selected candidate is also required.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools