Supervisor- Physical Therapy

Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day support and direction for Physical Therapists to ensure the therapeutic needs of students are met with person-centered physical therapy services, supports and interventions in alignment with MSA's mission.
• Oversees and ensures compliance with regulations and best practices for physical therapy services provided by the multi-disciplinary team, regularly collaborating with applicable MSA leadership and other departments to support development and implementation of clinical interventions and use of adaptive equipment or other durable medical equipment that ensure students reach maximal capabilities.
• Ensures provision of appropriate therapeutic interventions, services and supports to students through implementation of individualized plans that support attainment of documented therapy goals by properly trained, certified, licensed and/or otherwise qualified staff following appropriate levels of supervision and safeguards, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.
• Regularly performs all duties of a Physical Therapist as indicated in Physical Therapist – Education Services job description for an assigned caseload of students and provides coverage for caseloads of other Physical Therapists in their absence, as needed.
• Oversees and evaluates effectiveness of physical therapy services, ensuring that Physical Therapists implement appropriate methods, plans and resources to support the safety and wellbeing of students including during field trips off school grounds and while moving around school or classroom, including completion of transfers.
• Monitors, reviews and provides feedback regarding physical therapy-related needs and individual student support plans in collaboration with Physical Therapists, MSA leadership team and other stakeholders, identifying trends and unmet needs, proposing and overseeing implementation of solutions and revisions to correct issues and deficiencies or to update services and plans as individual needs change.
• Regularly communicates and advises on MSA policies and procedures with families and MSA staff, providing support, guidance and resolutions to specific concerns or issues relating to physical therapy interventions and requests or assessments relating to orthotics, podiatry and/or durable medical equipment needs for individual students; escalates concerns to Director of Clinical Services, as needed.
• Maintains a safe, secure and compliant work environment by understanding, communicating and keeping current with all applicable processes, procedures and requirements for documenting, tracking and reporting (e.g. workplace injuries, incidents, absences, leaves, etc.).
• Provides support and guidance for Physical Therapists, consistently applying and enforcing school policies, procedures and productivity standards and addresses concerns or performance issues in collaboration with Director of Clinical Services through discussions and plans for corrective actions, as needed.
• Plans and monitors staffing, scheduling and caseloads for physical therapy-related services, ensuring maintenance of appropriate coverage with consideration for scope of practice and skillset in assignment of responsibilities.
• Participates in interview, selection, placement and/or reassignment processes for Physical Therapists providing feedback and making recommendations to MSA leadership.
• Conducts regular check-ins with and formal observations of Physical Therapists to ensure clear communication and understanding of job expectations, policies and procedures, to assess impact of therapeutic interventions and to provide regular feedback, coaching and development, appropriately documenting supervisions, developing plans for growth and professional development.
• Ensures Physical Therapists are actively pursuing required education, continuing education and/or professional licenses in accordance with all requirements and are appropriately maintaining and documenting professional license, certification(s) and/or registration(s) for their assignment.
• Provides training and oversight for Physical Therapists and PT students or interns and for other MSA staff supporting therapeutic activities and implementing mobility related interventions, including positioning, navigating obstacles and completing transfers.
• Provides clinical supervision as authorized by State of New York, which includes providing and appropriately documenting supervision for individual staff pursuing clinical hours required for NYS licensure and/or clinical internships.
• Initiates, reviews or approves staff status, work hour, promotions, demotions, transfers and/or other adjustments for staff, ensuring changes are appropriately submitted in Workday in a timely manner.
• Ensures timekeeping records and approvals through Workday are completed accurately and on a timely basis to support payroll processing; identifies concerns with attendance, work hours and/or time tracking, resolving with staff or coordinating resolutions and coverage with MSA clinical leadership, when needed.
• Supports Physical Therapists with developing and writing appropriate therapeutic goals for students and ensures timely and accurate completion of all documentation relating to services for individual students including applicable assessments, annual therapeutic goals and plans, regular/annual progress reports and session notes; edits and/or reviews specific cases as needed to address concerns or issues and provides information to other departments and leadership regarding individual students, as requested.
• Ensures that Physical Therapists are communicating with and involving parents in their child's activities and progress and communicates directly with parents regarding therapeutic interventions or specific concerns including necessary assessments, documentation and/or measurements needed to support durable medical equipment-related needs, when needed.
• Participates in recurring clinical and other related or schoolwide meetings including specialized or student-specific needs, supports and/or training; may attend other interdepartmental and schoolwide meetings as requested.
• Remains current with developments and new interventions, technologies or ideas relating to physical therapy, assistive technology and adaptive equipment through research and/or continuing, professional or other education.
• Researches and identifies potential external partners and resources that may enhance or further support therapeutic interventions or families and/or establish community service, internship or educational opportunities and presents findings to Director of Clinical Services, facilitating connections and implementations as directed.
• Participates in the planning and facilitation of physical therapy-related activities including school and parent trainings and assists with planning and administration of schoolwide events, activities and/or fundraisers in collaboration with MSA leadership.
• Complies with and ensures compliance with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and cooperation with appropriate entities in any inspection, inquiry or investigation.
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.)

• Current and valid license and registration as a Physical Therapist issued by the New York State Education Department;

  and

• Three (3) years of experience working in a clinical capacity in Physical Therapy, ideally working with students ages 3 – 21 in a special education setting;

  or

• Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training. However, all incumbents must hold a current, valid license and registration as described above.
• Working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, Local and oversight agency regulations, including New York State Education Department (NYSED) and NYC Department of Education (DOE).
• Extensive knowledge of the needs of neurodivergent students, related clinical syndromes and pediatric physical therapy needs and ability to apply methodologies and philosophies that best support this population.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with MSA staff, families and other stakeholders at varying levels.
• Exceptional supervisory skills and ability to effectively manage, coach and support clinicians through hands-on support.
• Proficiency with computers and using electronic systems including email, Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce and/or Workday to complete tasks.
• Strong planning, organizational, problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities while quickly addressing changing needs and to make thoughtful decisions in line with the overall vision and mission of MSA, which best position students for success.
• Ability to report on-site to school on a regular basis and to travel across New York City metropolitan area to visit headquarters, schools, attend meetings and/or conferences, if requested.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; using hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; and bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing as needed; having the physical capacity to assist with lifting, moving and/or supporting students of any weight with standing or sitting on one or more occasions during the course of the day with or without assistance and/or pushing students in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion and ability to implement emergency interventions as per student's Behavior Support Plan if needed, which may include running.