CHIEF OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

Code: 05189 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction of a physician and/or other supervisory personnel, plans activity programs, organizes, develops and supervises therapists who provide professional medical rehabilitation in two or more specialized therapeutic occupations. Assigns, evaluates and reviews the work of therapists and supportive staff; ensures that the established treatment plans are followed in accordance with the total medical rehabilitation plan for the patient; performs other related work as required.

Examples of work

• Maintains responsibility for a unit that is comprised of various therapy occupations such as recreation therapy, art therapy, music therapy, psychodrama, occupational therapy, dance therapy, and horticultural therapy.
• Maintains responsibility for ensuring that therapists perform professional work in the physical or mental rehabilitation of patients by providing direction to staff in the performance of their work.
• Reviews staff reports for compliance with established documentation procedures and treatment plans.
• Conducts evaluation of staff and programs of the unit, investigating facility maintenance problems, administering personnel matters and dealing effectively with employees and patients.
• Promotes inter-disciplinary staff communication.
• Assigns work to therapists based on such factors as difficulty and requirements of assignments.
• Ensures that activities are handled by qualified personnel.
• Resolves technical work problems of therapists that are not covered by precedents or established policies to ensure proper treatment for patients.
• Coordinates the administration of various programs within the unit; issues directives and/or approves actions, monitors effects, revises actions as needed in order to facilitate efficient operation of the unit.
• Communicates with unit leaders, medical and nursing staff and higher supervisory personnel concerning plans, problems, and progress; exchanges information, suggestions and opinions in order to provide information and joint planning effects.
• Attends meetings on operational concerns; listens to presentations on policies, regulations and procedures that pertain to therapeutic services; asks questions for clarification and gives comments and suggestions in order to keep informed on operational guidelines.
• Evaluates staff performance assigned to the unit to ensure that the policies and procedures are met and treatment plans are followed in accordance with established state and program standards.
• Reviews work in progress or upon completion, production reports or other data to ascertain problems in accuracy, adequacy, adherence to procedures; etc. of individuals and/or unit and takes corrective action as necessary.
• Resolves informal complaints of staff assigned to unit, contacting higher levels of supervision, service or other organization, as appropriate for information and correction of unsatisfactory conditions.
• Informs higher levels of supervision of anticipated vacancies, increases in workload, or other circumstances to obtain replacements, temporary help or additional staff.
• Oversees attendance and leave, typically including approval of ordinary sick and annual leave and vacation schedules to ensure that proper coverage is maintained.
• Performs professional work that requires the use of appropriate specialized therapy which includes the planning and implementation of treatment plans which are based on a medical prescription or a medical referral in order to maintain the physical and/or mental health or to achieve the physical and/or mental rehabilitation of patients.
• Attends classes in subject areas of work, listens to lectures, watches demonstrations, etc. in order to keep abreast of current developments in the therapy field.
• Compiles financial data of budgeted funds, submits periodic reports extracting pertinent information, performing routine computations entering appropriate information and tabulations as necessary in order to provide data for budget reports.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Performs related duties as required.
• <b>REQUIREMENTS
• EDUCATION</b>
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in any of the therapeutic professions such as art, music, dance, psychodrama, or recreation, including or supplemented by completion of six (6) months of clinical therapy training or an internship in any of the therapeutic professions.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in performing evaluations of patients having acute or severe physical or mental disabilities, planning the therapeutic treatment, modifying therapeutic treatment plans and adapting therapeutic treatment procedures, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the skills used in adapting standard practices and procedures of the therapy specialization to the physical, psychological, psychosocial and emotional needs and limitations of individual patients and groups of patients.
• Knowledge of the terminology and methods used as treatment objectives prescribed by medical teams.
• Knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of one or more therapeutic professions.
• Knowledge of the use of appropriate specialized activities to maintain the physical and/or mental rehabilitation of patients.
• Knowledge of the fundamental theory, concepts, and objectives of medical rehabilitation in order to carry out the goals of the particular therapy programs.
• Ability to extend application of guidelines and/or regulations to unique situations.
• Ability to draw conclusions from analysis of facts and make decisions.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to interpret written regulations, guidelines and technical professional information.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Possession of a Master's Degree in any of the therapeutic professions such as art, music, dance, psychodrama, or recreation from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by completion of six (6) months clinical therapy training or an internship in any of the therapeutic professions may be substituted for one (1) year of the non-supervisory experience.