Summary:

The school-based Physical Therapist provides services that help students to achieve their highest possible level of independent functioning within the school, home, and community. These services include screening, assessment, consultation, program planning, treatment, administration, education, and research. The therapist provides services that promote and improve the musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, and perceptual motor skills of school-aged children/youth who live and/or go to school in New Westminster. The Therapist works with the school-based teams and participates in the referral process including using the Priority Intervention Criteria that is used to determine the order of children being seen.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides intervention and programming to assigned clients, following Therapists' supervision including receiving instruction from the clinicians.
• Prioritize and screen referrals in collaboration with the School Based team.
• Conduct assessments of the student's physical abilities using standardized assessment tools and non-standardized assessment including observation, interview, and review of medical and developmental reports and in a variety of locations (i.e., home, school, daycare), according to the child/youth and family, and school's schedule.
• Assist in the development of IEP Plans and develops goals for physical therapy services in consultation with the family and school-based team, based on the assessment results.
• Provides goal-oriented treatment services to individual students or groups of students and their families to implement a physical therapy program based on established goals that includes ongoing monitoring of progress toward goals, consultation, suggestions, and revisions of strategies as necessary.
• Provides instruction, guidance and advice to the school-based team, teachers, assistants, families, and other caregivers in the use of specialized equipment and to help carry out student-specific recommendations.
• Recommends, prescribes, fits and modifies specialized equipment and adaptive devises and provides specialized therapy services as needed to meet the student's fine motor and mobility needs. Refers families to other community services and professionals as needed.
• Liaises with other community service provider and professionals to ensure coordinated and consistent therapies and services. Participates in school-based team and family assessment, planning, direct services, and transition planning related to individual students, including implementing the processes that take effect when the student is discharged from the service.
• Maintains related records and produces reports as required including providing information to families, which ensures that families receive copies of all memos and reports produced related to their child, and that school personnel and other service providers receive this information as appropriate.
• Provides in-service training for school staff consultative and education services to families, caregivers, other service providers and the general public.
• Maintains current knowledge on literature and research in the field. Provides up to date best practice information.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in physical therapy with paediatric training and current registration with the College of Physical Therapists.
• A minimum of One (1) year or more years of paediatric clinical experience, including experience in a community based early intervention program or school aged therapy program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The school-based Physical Therapist understands and can work effectively with young children and their families to provide therapy and consultation services.
• He/she will have demonstrated strong leadership, instructional, written, and oral skills, and will be a committed team member.

Start Date: Immediately

Location: New Westminster and Tricities

Hours of work: 28 hours per week (flexible to be scheduled with supervisor, some evenings and weekends may be required)

Post Closing date - June 30, 2024 (Open until Filled)

SHARE recognizes the systemic discrimination that Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour and many other groups have historically experienced, and continue to face in our society, and in our community. SHARE is committed to being an inclusive, welcoming and unbiased employer and service provider. Further, we are encouraging members of these communities to apply for this position. Please feel free to let us know if you carry any of these identities.

Our Organization

SHARE is an accredited non-profit, independent, community-based organization providing leadership and programs in response to the social needs of the residents of the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra), New Westminster and adjacent communities. SHARE Family & Community Services exists to Connect, Engage, and Strengthen Individuals and Families.

To learn more about SHARE Family & Community Services:

• watch this video https://vimeo.com/316966573
• Visit our website at https://sharesociety.ca/