Physical Therapist, EI - The Arc of Union County : Job Details

The Arc1s Early Intervention Program, funded by the NJ Department of Health, is open to any child from birth to age 3, who has a developmental delay or disability, or who is at risk for developing a delay or disability. Following a comprehensive evaluation of a child1s needs, the Early Intervention Team develops a coordinated approach to the provision of developmental intervention services, which includes physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, behavior intervention, and social work services. All services are provided within the child's natural environment. Physical Therapist duties with the agency involve meeting and discussing treatment plans with patients and initiating therapeutic methods for improving patients' ability to perform basic functions that are necessary for an everyday routine. Physical therapists may also work with occupation therapists to approach patient care with a combined therapy plan to improve patient results. This position provides services to children ages 0-3 with developmental needs and their families in-home and/or community settings throughout Union County. This role requires a compassionate healer who is passionate about their children and families and committed to helping them recover their independence and mobility. The Physical Therapist evaluates and assesses all children birth to 3 years of age, with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiac and/or respiratory diseases and/or disabilities to determine their level of function. The PT develops and performs therapeutic treatment programs that reflect age-appropriate activities and documents findings. Early Intervention is a family-training model. This position provides a unique approach to best support our clients and families' individual needs. As a Physical Therapist, this staff along with our collective Early Intervention team takes a person-centered approach and focuses on the child's strengths and individual differences, while developing an intervention plan that addresses his or her unique profile. The incumbent will be responsible for providing home and based early intervention services to infants and toddlers who have or are at risk for developmental delays and their families. The incumbent will partner with parents/caregivers to ensure service delivery is individualized, meaningful for the family, and grounded in evidence based practice. This position is to both educate and coach families on effective strategies to help their child reach developmental milestones and improve daily routines. Assist the family in understanding the special needs and development of their child. Perform Family Training with the family, caregiver and child in their home or daycare setting. Provide professional and responsible Service Coordination to meet the needs of the child and the family. This job assignment requires the practitioner to make home visits/community-based visits to train parents and caregivers in helping to improve developmental skills; us specific interventions based on the child's (birth to three) individual needs; acts as a role model for parents in the natural environment; act as a liaison between professional licensed staff, parents, and agencies. Make verbal and written recommendations to parents and caregivers for the purpose of assisting infants/toddlers towards successful implementation and management of in-home training. Scope and Limits of Authority: This position is responsible for acting in compliance with a child's IFSP and in accordance with NJEIS requirements. This position does not have staff reporting responsibilities and functions under direct supervision and instruction from the Sr. Director, Children's Services. Receives structured project direction and assignments from the Sr. Director, Children's Services. Incumbents work within a framework of established goals and objectives. Incumbents in this classification are not authorized to assign, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of others. Work Hours: Physical Therapist is a per diem position and work hours will vary. Qualifications: Master's degree in physical therapy from a physical therapy program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Current physical therapy license for state of operation. A minimum of 1 year of experience providing physical therapy to children at home or in a fully equipped PT facility. Must have personal vehicle to travel between client's homes and schools. Current license to practice physical therapy specific to New Jersey. Major Position Responsibilities Responsibilities: Perform initial and ongoing physical therapy evaluations according to APTA standards of practice as well as state standards to include:

• Develop Plan of Treatment for each child/family based on initial and ongoing evaluations including short- and long-term goals, collaboration demands of other team members, and required child and caregiver involvement.

• Implement Plan of Treatment on a consistent schedule and adjust this schedule and plan according to child's progress.
• Document child's progress according to the IFSP document and NJEIS requirements.
• Evaluate mobility, strength, and current level of child's function, while setting goals to improve in these areas that are scaled to child's abilities and realistically attainable.
• Report child progress to parent or caregiver involved in ongoing care of child.
• Coordinate updates with service coordinators with an IFSP plan for children every 6 months or sooner as designated within the individual plan with appropriate in-home care services.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, etc.
• Experience with recommending assistive equipment to children and outpatient or home health follow-up programs.
• Knowledge of Physical Therapy and an understanding of when these techniques can benefit children.
• A strong sense of empathy, a compassionate outlook on PT and the ability to motivate children into pushing their limits in a responsible, safe way.
• Demonstrate effective teaching skills with children/family members/caregivers and maintain safety and care of the child during treatment sessions.
• Responsible for maintaining required training as deemed necessary by Agency.
• Responsible to provide documentation related to services rendered to include daily session notes into EIMS showing documentation per session, NJEIS authorization logs stating date/time of session with parent signature, consultation/evaluation reports and maintaining adequate and current records.

Therapy & Consultation; Provide services in a home/community/teletherapy setting:

• Conduct formal and informal Developmental Evaluations
• Collaborate as needed with department interdisciplinary teams including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Child Developmental Specialists, and Behavior Analysts
• Apply interventions to maximize children's safety and performance in daily life.
• Assess clients using a variety of tools, assess client's home, tele-health and other environments and advise on alterations consistent with their needs and capabilities.
• Recommend adaptive equipment and train in its use.
• Provide intervention in the form of direct individual therapy, consultation, monitoring, and/or written programs.
• Provide both direct therapy and consultation services, while effectively communicating learners' progress and needs with guardians and Early intervention management.
• Follow standards of practice for the profession regarding the safe application of assessment protocols, therapeutic techniques, and techniques for direct handling of clients.
• Provide education and training on an on-going basis (monthly and as needed) to caregivers.
• Collect data as required and provide necessary information to document progress.

• Attend IFSP meetings with family members and the Early Intervention team as needed.
• Ensure the safe and effective delivery of physical therapy services.
• Provides physical therapy services that require the skills of a physical therapist and are consistent with the established plan of care.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team coordination of care.
• Promotes wellness and prevention by promoting physical engagement.
• Identifies the child's need for other disciplines and services and initiates the appropriate referral.
• Demonstrates knowledge of available community resources/services.
• Communicates plan of care changes to the appropriate staff as necessary.
• Keeps abreast of physical therapy trends and knowledge for the service provision, documentation, and care coordination.

Administrative Duties

• Submit 025 progress reports within a proper timeline as mandated by the agency and state regulations.
• Submit daily sessions into the EIMS system in real time for claim processing requirements as mandated by the agency and state regulations.
• Submit monthly billing on the first of the month or on designated date assigned as mandated by the agency billing procedures.

Quality Control

• Review and revise reports and assessments as needed.
• Individual and or management quality review daily, weekly, monthly service documentation to ensure all appointments have thorough and accurate supporting documentation.
• Sign all documentation under the supervision of the Sr. Director of Children's Services monthly.
• Submit semi-annual program progress report to management as required.

Leadership Alignment with the demand of the organizations reporting requirement: ability to use resourceful means to create an advantageous position to channel the energy and activities of others in support of the entire demand ofthe organization's goals. Follows and models agency policy, procedures and compliance and supports day-to-day operations and services to include the performance of job tasks of staff. Develops and maintains communications with relevant stakeholders and developing and maintaining an understanding of their needs, objectives, and constraints so that long-term, mutually beneficial solutions and conflict resolution practices can be created for all parties. Models' responsible leadership of the principals of good business practices. Works professionally and collaboratively with Operations, families and community supports. Knowledgeable of agency policy and can manage his/her individual requests for vacation, sick leave, and other excused periods away from work so that it does not impact agency operations. Complies with agency rules and policies regarding employee conduct. Maintains an environment of open professional communications with colleagues and serves as a liaison with other departments in the resolution of day-to-day administrative, billing, and operational issues, and resolves differences constructively and tactfully while treating others with respect. Focuses on customer needs and customer satisfaction, projects a positive customer service environment to both internal and external customers and promotes and encourages an attitude of exemplary customer service and high integrity to all the staff within the Family Support Services. Has excellent command of communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. Has demonstrated ability to make logical informed decisions. Reporting/Analysis Ability to understand correlation of data and outcomes. Ability to report on status of specific duties and activities of the Early Intervention Services as required or requested. Ability to professionally diagnose situations, summarize thoughts and to document solution based ideas and recommendations Required Training Adult and Infant/Child CPR State mandated training Continued education through courses that support learning in social services COVID-19 HIPAA Agency Orientation/Diversity/Harassment Other agency sponsored training as required to include maintaining agility with MS Office software. Required Licenses and or Certifications: Current physical therapy license for state of operation. Current CPR (ADA) Mental/Physical Effort and Working Conditions: The Arc of Union County will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship for The Arc of Union County. (Physical Demands) The physical demands described here are representative ofthose that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• ability to operate a motor vehicle and drive to and from local and remote locations as needed.
• ability to verbally communicate and converse with employees.
• maintain a stationary position standing 80%, sitting 20%
• move/traverse, kneel, bend, and reach with hands and arms for extended periods of time, 90% up to 100% depending on the job type.
• lift to an average of 35 lbs. To effectively perform the essential functions of this role.
• work as described to include ability to hear and repeat information, take notes, read documents.
• carry necessary field equipment by hand or cart weighing up to 40 lbs. on occasion; and other physical duties as directed by your supervisor.
• agility with wrist and finger dexterity to access, key, and sort electronic information or to file documents.

(EEO statement) The Arc of Union County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability. The Arc of Union County Early Intervention, Physical Therapist Job Description (Work Environment) The agency offers safety training such as Universal Precautions/Infectious diseases, COVID-19 Education and Safety Practices among others to promote a safe environment for all employees and service recipients including visitors. Personal Protective Equipment and necessary supplies such as disinfectants are supplied to all employees free or charge. Each employee is responsible for completing the offered training and implementing the health and safety protocols and mitigation practices consistently. Each employee must fully comply with all requests to participate in investigations and inspections. This position is classified as a core to the agency operations and will require the incumbent to provide the agency with a minimum of (4) weeks' notice prior to vacating this role.