PHYSICAL THERAPIST - 12102024-63877

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY & AGING (DDA), EAST TENNESSEE HOMES DIVISION, GREENE COUNTY

Background checks and fingerprinting will be required prior to employment

This position may be eligible for a remote/hybrid work schedule

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy.

OR

Graduation from a physical therapist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Education (CAPTE) and approved by the Board of Physical Therapy.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

Licensure or temporarily permitted to practice as a Physical Therapist by the Health Related Board.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Positions within DHS may be required to:

1. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;

2. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;

3. Supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check.

Examination Method: Education and Experience,100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional physical therapy work of average difficulty and supervisory work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Responsibilities

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:

1. Identifies and recognizes changes in an individual's status such as medical or behavioral issues that may interfere with the implementation and performance of overall plan of care.

1. Uses behavioral management techniques as a means to modify service recipient behaviors to promote successful outcomes.
2. Implements the crisis plan in both practice drills and crisis situations to promote health, welfare and safety of all service recipients.
3. Ensures service recipients receive prompt medical/mental health care from appropriate personnel to promote health, welfare and safety.
4. Assists service recipients in restoring lost skills, gaining new skills or maintaining existing skills through physical therapy to promote positive outcomes.

1. Administers physical therapy screenings and/or evaluation procedures in order to determine an individual's present skill level and needs.
2. Evaluates the performance of support staff through performance evaluations and SMART goals to ensure quality person-centered services.
3. Evaluates an individual's use of adaptive equipment while in treatment for further assessment to ensure positive individual outcomes.

1. Investigates, responds, and resolves complaints and other disputes among staff, customers, and other sources to provide the most effective use of program resources and positive outcomes through mediation, discussions, or other problem solving techniques deemed appropriate.

1. Operates a variety of therapeutic equipment (i.e., exercise equipment, treatment modalities, etc.) as part of the plan of care.
2. Fabricates and modifies adaptive equipment to meet service recipient needs.

1. May conduct interviews with applicants and review resumes to identify relevant skills and work experience to assist in the selection of the most qualified candidates for job openings.

1. Gathers information through observation, chart review, interviews, hands-on evaluation, and team collaboration to determine need for physical therapy intervention, to develop individualized treatment plans and/or to assess effectiveness of current treatment plans.

1. Provides information to outside agencies, vendors, manufacturers or medical personnel and/or other disciplines regarding progress and effectiveness of intervention to ensure goals and objectives are being addressed.

1. Motivates staff through goal-setting to improve performance.
2. Supervises therapeutic staff by establishing caseloads and treatment plan components for timely implementation of services.

1. Provides discipline-specific consults as requested by other professionals to promote optimal outcomes.

1. Performs physical activities that require considerable use of arms and legs and whole body movement such as lifting, transferring, walking, and stooping while assisting to implement the plan of treatment.
2. Uses hands and arms to handle, position, move, and manipulate treatment equipment to provide the most optimal therapeutic environment for clients.

1. Explains assessment results, medical terminology and/or treatment plans to provide clarity and understanding in a manner appropriate for the individuals.
2. Assists in developing, interpreting, and enforcing departmental policy and procedure and in interpreting or enforcing facility policy to ensure effective service delivery.

1. Designs, creates or adapts equipment, treatments and programs to achieve optimal functional outcomes.
2. Works with staff to formulate creative ideas and find solutions to problems in an effort to promote and improve service delivery.

1. Develops treatment programs as indicated by evaluation results to best meet the needs of the service recipient.
2. Generates goals for assigned subordinates; develops motivational strategies to enhance investment and participation in special events and project.

1. Documents all staff disciplinary interventions, per protocol, in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
2. Documents all concerns/complaints to ensure health and safety of all parties involved per protocol.
3. Records and maintains documentation in order to meet physical therapy, facility, federal and state guidelines.

1. Develops recommendations based upon evaluation results for such treatment needs as individual follow-up, orthopedic and/or neurological review, use of adaptive equipment, individual positioning, and referral to other program services.
2. Performs assessments in specific areas such as, but not limited to, functional mobility, gross motor skills, and adaptive equipment to provide information for the development of individualized treatment plans.
3. Assesses the environment for safety concerns and determines appropriate equipment usage or environmental modification based on service recipient needs.
4. Advises staff regarding problems to ensure compliance with policy, law, and effective service delivery.
5. Selects job candidates who best fit available positions to ensure optimal program success.
6. Approves travel, time and attendance, training and other related requests submitted by assigned subordinates to ensure compliance with departmental, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, processes, and procedures.

1. Analyzes, interprets, and provides feedback on performance data to improve program outcomes and staff effectiveness.

1. Teaches functional mobility skills to service recipients to promote an optimal level of independence.
2. Conducts training and instruction in the fundamentals of physical therapy for staff, students, volunteers, and other community representatives to ensure the most current information and techniques are shared with others.
3. Provides orientation to new employees through review of policies, procedures and job functions to establish clear expectations.

1. Uses relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with physical therapy, facility, federal and state guidelines.
2. Identifies training needs by reviewing documented staff issues and identifying errors in records.

1. Actively processes information to update and/or change individual treatment as related to physical therapy sessions.
2. Actively participates in team/interdisciplinary meetings to process all related information and to determine need to change or update the individual plan of care.
3. Oversees workflow and processing of paperwork within unit to ensure effective and quality services are delivered to service recipient.

1. Works directly with the public for the purpose of marketing, community re-entry rehabilitation, community education and program development.

1. Provides information regarding progress and effectiveness of intervention to ensure goals and objectives are being addressed.
2. May act as a resource person and offer guidance to co-workers to provide an efficient cohesive work environment.

1. Enters/approves time and leave/overtime requests into appropriate databases as needed; responds to email, phone calls and other correspondence as required in a timely manner.

1. Attends conferences, in-service training, and continuing education programs as required to maintain licensure.
2. Attends conferences, in-service training, continuing education programs and other related meetings as required to remain current on new practices in the physical therapy field specialty areas, such as, but not limited to, assistive technology, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

1. Develops constructive working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and other facility staff to promote a positive work environment and ensure quality service.

1. Prioritizes and delegates tasks to other staff to assist with carrying out treatment plans.
2. Schedules treatments and interventions for service recipients receiving physical therapy services/programs and may be responsible for scheduling the work of other staff for coordination of care.
3. Schedules meetings and trainings to inform and update staff and customers regarding program changes and other relevant information.

1. Monitors the proper use of adaptive equipment by individuals engaged in therapy to ensure the equipment is appropriate and meets the needs of the client.
2. Keeps equipment in good repair or refers to appropriate discipline to assure safety standards are met as directed.
3. Orders equipment and materials needed in the implementation of therapeutic treatment to guarantee appropriate equipment and material resources are maintained.
4. Maintains treatment area and/or working environment in orderly manner to ensure work areas function optimally.
5. Requests supplies as needed to maintain appropriate supply inventories.

1. Operates computer hardware and software, scanners, and other equipment to complete reports, input data, communicate with others, and capture and maintain program information.

1. Operates state vehicles when necessary to perform job duties.
2. Operates state vehicles to transport service recipient to community outings, trainings and appointments.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Functional/Technical Competency
2. Learning on the Fly
3. Written Communications
4. Customer Focus
5. Process Management
6. Problem Solving
7. Drive for Results
8. Ethics and Values
9. Self-Development
10. Dealing with Paradox

1. Intermediate Knowledge of Education and Training
2. Intermediate Knowledge of Physical Therapy Principles and Methods
3. Intermediate Knowledge of Psychology
4. Intermediate Knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry

1. Monitoring Skills
2. Instructing Skills
3. Active Learning Skills
4. Active Listening Skills
5. Critical Thinking Skills
6. Service Orientation Skills
7. Complex Problem Solving Skills
8. Judgment and Decision Making Skills
9. Social Perceptiveness Skills
10. Technology Design Skills
11. Management of Material Resources Skills
12. Equipment Selection Skills

1. Written Expression Ability
2. Oral Comprehension Ability
3. Written Comprehension Ability
4. Originality
5. Problem Sensitivity
6. Oral Expression Ability
7. Dynamic Strength Ability
8. Gross Body Coordination Ability
9. Dynamic Flexibility Ability

Tools & Equipment

1. ADL (Activities Daily Living Equipment)
2. Exercise Equipment
3. Durable Medical Equipment
4. Assessment Tools and Equipment
5. Personal Computer/Tablets
6. Telephone
7. Fax Machine
8. Printer
9. Scanner
10. Copier
11. Motor Vehicle
12. Digital Camera