2023-2024 Certified Physical Therapist Assistant

Job Title: CERTIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Reports To: DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES OR DESIGNEE
General Job Description:
To provide physical therapy services to identified eligible special education students for the prevention of increased disability wherever possible, through the development of compensatory motor skills and the identification, adaptation and adjustment of equipment when needed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Conduct or assist with assessment of students referred through the evaluation process.
2. Participate in the program planning for individual students.
3. Provide intervention for student's identified as needing service by the IEP team.
4. Demonstrate management skills.
5. Demonstrate professional competencies:
6. Knowledge of handicapping conditions, and their effects on sensory, motor, psychosocial, and cognitive development of students with disabilities.
7. Knowledge of local, federal, and state regulations and procedures pertaining to the provision of physical therapy services in the school setting.
8. Knowledge of major theories, treatment procedures, and research relevant to providing physical therapy services for children with disabilities.
9. Ability to select, administer, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments, and procedures taking into consideration the student's age, developmental level, disability, and educational needs.
10. Ability to assess the functional performance of students with disabilities within the school environment.
11. Ability to engage in consensus decision making as a member of the IEP team.
12. Ability to plan, and implement intervention strategies using direct therapy.
13. Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) with educational personnel, administrators, parents, and community members.
14. Ability to explain the role of physical therapy within the educational setting to educational personnel, administrators, parents, and community.
15. Ability to document assessment and intervention results in the proper manner for a school setting, and to relate this information to the educational goals of the student.
16. Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and modify according to a physical therapy program within a school setting.
17. Follow policies and administrative rules and regulations as specified in the board policy manual.
18. Medicaid notes are to be submitted 10 business days from the completion of service.
19. Other tasks as may be deemed appropriate and necessary by your immediate supervisor.

Assessment and Evaluation:

1. Assist in the evaluation of new students enrolling in the program within a reasonable time. If therapy is not indicated as a direct service, the therapist shall provide written input to the appropriate persons.
2. Use standardized tests, and customized measures and/or observation to assist in the evaluation of students in areas of cognitive-perceptual-motor skills, motor coordination, psychosocial, development, self-care, muscle strength and range of motion, postural reflexes, needs for adaptive devices and prostheses, and vocational skills.
3. The therapist, with parental permission, may make home visits for the purpose of evaluating and possibly servicing the child within his/her home environment.
4. Evaluate treatment effectiveness by observation, testing, communication with family and other sources.

Planning and Treatment-Direct Services:
Utilize treatment procedures involving physical, sensory, manual, creative, and recreational or play activities that are designed to:

1. Maintain or improve motor functioning such as normal developmental motor patterns, range of motion, muscle strength, gross and fine motor coordination, and activity tolerance.
2. Improve level of functioning in the areas of visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic perception, and cognitive-perceptual-motor integration skills.
3. Improve psychosocial development by aiding ego development, developing social interaction skills, and helping the child discover constructive alternatives.
4. Help the child achieve a maximum level of independence in toileting, feeding, personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, and mobility.
5. Help the child acquire homemaking and vocational skills and appropriate work Assessment and Evaluation.
6. Instruct the student in the use of functional and adaptive equipment and devices.

Indirect Services:

1. Participate in the Individual Education Program Committee (IEP).
2. Use a team approach to planning and treatment with school personnel, families, physicians, and agencies.
3. Re-evaluate treatment program and revise goals.
4. Stress follow-through of physical therapy goals in the classroom setting and support classroom goals in the therapy program.
5. Maintain a close working relationship with parents for follow-through of physical therapy treatment goals in the home.
6. Provide training to the appropriate persons regarding effective methods to aid the mainstreamed handicapped student.
7. Maintain background, assessment, and treatment records in accordance with administrative policy and the Right to Privacy Law.
8. Assess and recommend adaptive equipment and devices for the student and/or the classroom as needed.
9. Attend department meetings as appropriate as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
None
Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree or Equivalent Education as needed for certification
2. Current Licensure from the State of New Mexico in Physical Therapy.
3. Licensure must be renewed as needed by the N.M. Regulations and Licensing Department Physical Therapy Board.
4. Must obtain a minimum of 2.0 CEU's or (20 contract hours) per year for licensure requirements.
5. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
6. Valid Driver's license and Car Insurance.

Ability To:

1. Maintain confidentiality with sensitive matters.
2. Be flexible and able to prioritize tasks and maintain accurate and detailed records.
3. Report to work on time and work no less than 4 (.5 position) hours per day.
4. Work independently with very little supervision.

Physical Requirements:
Sitting, standing, lifting and carrying (up to 40 pounds), climbing stairs, reaching, squatting, kneeling, having full mobility of fingers/hands, and moving light furniture may be required, unless ADA accommodations have been mutually agreed on and does not create an undue hardship upon the district.
Safety and Health:
Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions (blood borne pathogens, body fluids, etc.)
Equipment/Material Handled:
Must know how to properly operate, or be willing to learn to operate, multi-media equipment including current technology as needed.
Work Environment:
Must be able to work within various degrees of noise and temperature. Interruptions of work are routine. Flexibility and patience are required. Must be self-motivated and able to complete job assignments without direct supervision. After hours work may be required. May make site or home visits as needed. May work under stressful conditions on occasion.
Employee's work:
Standing
15%
Inside
98%
Walking
15%
Outside
2%
Sitting
70%
Total
100%
100%
Requirements While Performing Job:
Physical Activity
Daily: Yes/No
Description
Twist: Waist
Yes
Wrist
Yes
Neck/Shoulder
Yes
Stoop, bend
Yes
Squat, kneel or crawl
Yes
Repetitive motions of hands or wrists
Yes
Run
No
Climb ladders, stairs, or equipment
No
Ride equipment
No
Walk on uneven terrain
No
Fine finger dexterity
Yes
Manual dexterity
Yes
Reaching above shoulders
Yes
Reaching at shoulder height
Yes
Reaching below shoulders
Yes
Other
Requirements for pushing, lifting, pulling, or carrying obstacles of weight
No. of lbs. from the floor
Push
Pull
Lift
Carry
Frequency: Explain if daily/weekly/monthly/once in a while
0-25
X
X
Daily
26-50
X
X
Weekly
51-150
Above 150
No. of lbs from chest high
0-25
X
X
Weekly
26-50
X
X
Once in a while
51-150
Above 150
No. of lbs. over head
0-25
X
X
Once in a while
26-50
51-150
Above 150
Must be capable of working under unusual conditions such as:
Chemicals, skin irritants such as soaps, cleaning agents and others
Cold/heat of outside work
Confined spaces such as crawl spaces and other small areas
Contact with the public
Yes
Dampness
Electrical
Explosives, flammables, gas, paint thinners
High work spaces
Machine noise
Yes
Radiation
Sun
Vibration
Protective equipment required
Vision Demand and Capabilities
Normal night vision
Normal depth perception
X
Normal depth vision
X
Normal color vision
X
Red/Green/Amber color vision
X
Uncorrected Vision
Corrected Vision
X
Hearing Demands and Capabilities
Hearing essentially normal
X
Some high tone loss
Significant high tone loss
Low tone loss
Other requirements: Corrected hearing
X
PRIMARY JOB LOCATION:
Various Sites
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT (LENGTH OF CONTRACT):
School year as scheduled on the school calendar.
EVALUATION PERFORMED BY:
Director of Student Support Services
Socorro Consolidated Schools provides all training required by OSHA to ensure employee safety.