Lead Physical Therapist (EST)

Lead Physical Therapist - Early Childhood Services

Make an impact where it matters most.

At Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), we believe every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive. As our Lead Physical Therapist, you'll play a vital role in helping young children (ages 0-3) with developmental delays reach their full potential - while leading and mentoring a passionate team of early intervention professionals.

In this leadership role, you'll provide hands-on therapy and developmental evaluations, coach staff to excellence, and shape a program that changes lives every day. You'll also expand your impact beyond San Diego - spending one day a week supporting children and families in Imperial County.

To recognize your dedication, HGH provides a $350 weekly travel stipend and a sign-on bonus of up to $10,000.
Why You'll Love Working With Us

At Home of Guiding Hands, we take care of the people who take care of others. You'll enjoy:

• Flexible scheduling designed to support your work-life balance
• CEU and license reimbursement so you can keep learning and growing
• Mileage reimbursement for all work-related travel
• Paid sick and vacation time to recharge when you need it
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions

Be Part of Something Bigger

This isn't just a job - it's a calling. Join a mission-driven team at one of San Diego's leading nonprofits and use your skills to make a lasting difference for children, families, and communities.

At HGH, your expertise creates possibilities, your compassion inspires hope, and your leadership shapes the future.

What You'll Be Doing:

Therapy & Family Support

• Reviews collateral and intake information provided.
• Evaluates a child's ability to move and perform functional activities.
• Completes intake paperwork, assessments, reports, and treatment plans with identified children and their families.
• Assists in the development of the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Schedules, plans, and conducts home visits with assigned families to carry out treatment plans and IFSP goals.
• Maintains ongoing communication with families and members of the ID team to coordinate program services.
• Prepares, collects, and maintains educational information files, records, case notes, and documentation from outside agencies.
• Conducts research related to families' needs for service and provides resources and educational information.
• Travels throughout assigned county (San Diego or Imperial) to complete sessions in family homes and other community locations.

Mentorship & Leadership

• Assists with training employees on policies, procedures, and assessment curriculum.
• Completes Quality Assurance evaluations consisting of staff observations and identification of ongoing training needs.
• Designs in-services and consults with staff as a Lead Physical Therapy expert.
• Reviews, tracks, and provides feedback on the written reports/collateral of staff.

What You'll Bring to the Role:
Education & Experience

• A current Physical Therapy license from the State of California Physical Therapy Board.
• A Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from a CAPTE-approved program.
• Minimum of one year of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Minimum of one year of experience in pediatrics (birth to 5 years of age).

Key Skills

• Strong communication skills (both oral and written).
• Ability to form positive, supportive, and professional working relationships.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to ensure accuracy in all documents and paperwork.
• The ability to manage your time efficiently and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• The ability to maintain cultural awareness and sensitivity while working with diverse families.
• The ability to review others' work and provide constructive feedback.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must receive a criminal record clearance from the DOJ.
• Must have a valid California Driver's license, a safe driving record, and have been licensed to drive for at least two years.
• Must maintain current and adequate auto insurance.
• Must obtain CPR/First Aid certification (we provide training for new hires).
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Our Values:

Innovation - We encourage creativity and innovation because we believe that by striving for more efficient and effective ways of doing things, we can achieve exceptional results. Our drive for success is shared by all. Our organization focuses on solutions and refuses to maintain the status quo. We challenge our team to be ahead of industry trends as we strive to lead and not follow.

Collaboration - We believe that working together collaboratively is the foundation of a culture that values teamwork, communication, and cooperation. This belief is central to every part of our business, both internally and externally, and strengthens our community.

Accountability - We take responsibility for our actions and for delivering on our commitments. We believe that by being transparent and accountable, we build trust and maintain the respect of our stakeholders.

Respect - We treat everyone with respect and dignity. We value inclusivity and believe that by upholding a culture of respect, we can foster a positive and supportive work environment. We treat others as we would want to be treated.

Empathy - We value empathy and understanding in all our interactions. We seek to understand the perspectives and needs of our colleagues, clients, and stakeholders to meet them with kindness and compassion.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

The work environment for this position involves working with a variety of people in their homes and in the community. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, hear, walk, bend, stoop, sit, stand, reach, and lift objects weighing up to ten pounds repeatedly during a shift.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Home of Guiding Hands is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression), age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

About HGH

Home of Guiding Hands is a non-profit organization that was established in 1967 by a small group of dedicated and ambitious community members. The Mission of HGH is "to improve the lives of those we serve". We support children and adults in San Diego and Imperial Counties with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy. We provide a full continuum of care including residential care in specialized group homes, independent living support, respite care, and adult foster home services. Additionally, we provide early childhood assessments and services, tailored day support, Life Planning workshops, county-wide transportation services, and on-site activities at our resource center.