Chief Therapist - Medical Therapy Unit

Starting salary up to $63.06/hour ($131,613/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!* 

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
 

• A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $1,700 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment

About the Position

The Chief Therapist serves as the program manager for the California Children's Services (CCS) Medical Therapy Unit (MTU). The position is responsible for implementing and evaluating the MTU program as a whole. Duties include:

• Planning, supervising, and evaluating activities of physical and occupational therapists and support staff 
• Holding regular meetings with Supervising Pediatric Therapists to ensure adherence to policies and procedures 
• Assessing the public health priorities and needs within the population of MTU-eligible children to ensure access to appropriate level of care
• Reviewing staffing caseloads to determine compliance with state mandates
• Collaborating with CCS administrative and Partnership Health Plan staff to ensure client care and case management guidelines are met
• Reviewing budget and spending to guarantee the program stays within budgeted expenses, and reviewing quarterly time studies
• Engaging in state and intercounty collaborative and information-sharing meetings related to the operation of the Medical Therapy Program
• Providing contract management and oversight
• Providing administrative oversight and review of electronic health records and workflow
• Collaborating with programs and services offered within the Public Health Division, as well as community based organizations, on behalf of MTU families that can potentially benefit from those services
• Overseeing the MTU student intern program

In addition to being reliable, patient, self-confident, and having high emotional intelligence, the ideal candidate will possess:

• Significant experience as a Physical Therapist (PT) or Occupational Therapist (OT) providing therapy to pediatric patients
• Working knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the MTU Program, including rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines 
• Excellent verbal and written communication, supervisory, training, and team-building skills
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to interact with a diverse customer base
• The ability to handle sensitive situations with kindness, empathy, professionalism, and a calm demeanor
• The ability to interpret data and the initiative to be on top of the latest research related to client care
• A high degree of emotional intelligence, empathy, and openness to feedback
• An interest in taking on new challenges and developing innovative strategies to improve service delivery models
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills 
• Training in family-centered and episodic treatment care is a plus!

The Medical Therapy Unit (MTU)

The MTU provides physical and occupational therapy services to eligible children with physical disabilities and often accompanying complex medical diagnoses. The Chief Therapist position oversees the MTU located at three school-based sites (the main MTU and two smaller satellite programs) within the County. The MTU program is housed within the Healthcare Coordination Section under the direction of the Director of Public Health Nursing within the Public Health Division. The MTU program serves over 300 children and their families on an ongoing basis.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
 
 This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Chief Therapist - Medical Therapy Unit position in the Department of Health Services. The Civil Service title for this classification is Medical Therapy Program Manager. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
 

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the required knowledge and abilities.  Normally, four years of full-time paid experience as a licensed physical or occupational therapist, one year of which must have been treating children with physical disabilities, and two years of which includes working in a supervisory capacity.
 
License: Possession of a current, valid license to practice physical therapy issued by the Physical Therapy Board of California or a current, valid license to practice occupational therapy issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy.  License must be renewed every two years prior to expiration.
 
Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: principles and methods of occupational and physical therapy, especially as applied to children with physical disabilities; proper use and operation of modern occupational and physical therapy equipment and appliances; anatomy, physiology, neuromuscular functions and dysfunctions, and kinesiology; pathology and injuries which result in physical impairment.
 
Considerable knowledge of: growth and development of children and those with physical disabilities; supervision and training; psychology and abnormal psychology.
 
Working knowledge of: federal and state rules, regulations and policies as related to services and medical eligibility for children with physical disabilities.
 
Ability to: plan, organize and direct a therapy program for children with physical disabilities; supervise, direct, coordinate and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel; understand and interpret physician's orders and adapt treatment programs to individual circumstances; effectively coordinate the children's therapy program with other public health and community programs; supervise the maintenance of complete and detailed department records, and to prepare accurate and concise technical reports; exercise tact and good judgment in dealing with patients, staff, parents, school personnel and the public; prepare and present oral and written reports; comply with common public health safety practices and procedures; cope with working with children and their families and to move children utilizing appropriate transfer techniques.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.