The Opportunity
The Physical Therapist is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating individualized physical therapy programs for clients with movement deficits that affect their ability to perform functional tasks at home, school, and in the community. The role includes screening, evaluation, treatment, therapeutic intervention, transition planning, and discharge/exit planning, with an emphasis on improving functional performance and independence.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct physical therapy screenings and evaluations and select appropriate assessment tools.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment and intervention plans based on evaluation findings and movement or functional performance deficits.
- Provide targeted, evidence-based physical therapy interventions to improve movement, functional performance, and participation.
- Monitor and reassess client progress and determine whether intervention should continue, be modified, or discontinued.
- Identify risk factors affecting performance and implement appropriate interventions.
- Train and educate families and caregivers to support functional skills, independence, health maintenance, and safety.
- Prepare comprehensive evaluation reports and maintain accurate clinical, administrative, scheduling, billing, and service documentation.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, educational personnel, community agencies, parents, and other service providers to promote continuity of care and support client needs.
- Provide supervision to physical therapy assistants and support personnel as appropriate.
- Maintain compliance with professional standards, federal and state regulations, facility policies, infection-control procedures, and ethical requirements.
- Participate in quality improvement, continuing education, evidence-based research, and professional development.
Qualifications
- Strong clinical judgment, compassion, integrity, and professional conduct.
- Excellent organizational, time-management, recordkeeping, and communication skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to work collaboratively with clients, families, caregivers, educational personnel, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of human development and the impact of disabilities and socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on functional participation.
- Knowledge of physical therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence-based practice.
- Ability to interpret evaluation findings, develop appropriate intervention plans, and provide evidence-based physical therapy interventions.
- Ability to gather and assess outcomes and use findings to modify services.
- Ability to pass required background screening.
Experience
- Successful completion of all required physical therapy fieldwork.
- Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy professional program recognized by APTA.
- The source document does not specify a minimum number of years of professional experience.
Certifications & Licensure
- Successful completion of the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
- Current Physical Therapist license issued by the Washington State Department of Health.
- Child CPR and First Aid certification.
- Successful completion of required background checks and fingerprinting.