THERAPY AIDE II - 60010615

Requisition No: 821950 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: THERAPY AIDE II - 60010615

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60010615 

Salary:  $32,760.00 to $39,171.07 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 10/13/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Florida State Hospital (FSH) is a mental health treatment facility owned and operated by the State of Florida and is part of the Department of Children and Families. The department’s mission is to “work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.”

FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as Therapy Aide II at Unit 14. This position will collaborate with each section within the state facilities and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This position is located in Specialty Care Unit 14 and is responsible for a variety of daily care, treatment and rehabilitation activities designed to stabilize, re-orient, mobilize, re-train and rehabilitate mentally and emotionally disturbed residents, as well as those physically disabled by disease, injury or surgery.
• Schedules, prepares for and conducts psychosocial activities; such as, sensory/reality orientation and remotivation, as well as leisure activities such as exercise, general recreation and art/music on an individual basis. Administers active, passive, resistive exercises as prescribed by the attending physician and under the supervision of a Registered/Licensed Physical Therapist or Registered/Licensed Occupational Therapist. Teaches various techniques of stretching and strengthening exercises.
• Documents resident activities, treatment techniques, treatment goals, responses to treatment and progressions or regressions of the resident in attainment of stated goals. Documents other pertinent observations of the residents' emotional and physical status. Maintains and provides data as requested regarding baselines and behavioral program effectiveness.
• Assist in procedures required for the assessment or treatment of physically handicapped, by disease, injury or loss of body parts, of residents as assigned by supervisor or Physical Therapist.
• Performs routine duties necessary for the smooth operation of the Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy program; such as escorting resident to treatment areas, performing housekeeping duties, when necessary, in assigned areas (mopping and cleaning), making runs to needed areas and assisting in emergency care of residents.
• Attends and participates in Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy meetings contributing knowledge of the residents' problems and behaviors and makes recommendations for resolution of identified problems.
• Administers physical and occupational therapy treatments necessary for the resident rehabilitation of the handicapped including muscle strengthening and coordinating training through the use of mat table, standing (tilt)table, parallel bars, quadriceps table and other therapy equipment. Administers hydro-therapy treatment, ultraviolent lamp, ultrasound/stimulator, hydrocollator machine, (hot packs), intermittent compression pump and paraffin wax bath under the supervision of a Registered Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist and prescribed by attending physician.
• Trains assigned residents in the use of wheelchairs, quad canes, pyramid canes and walkers. Arrangements are made through PT to a consulting vendor when braces, special Orthopedic shoes, ankle foot orthosis (A.F.O.), prosthesis.
• Performs preventive maintenance and repairs on all wheelchairs, Geri chairs, walkers and other prosthetic/assistive devices used within unit. Coordinates repairs through MUS/designee when needed repairs exceed unit capability.
• Keep daily logs of residents' treatments and progress. Keep daily log of residents treated. Keep documentation for Medicare residents and provide logs, progress notes and treatment orders for Medicare billing. Turn in monthly report and number of treatments given. Order necessary medical and pharmacy supplies. Audit two (2) charts each month.
• Maintains an inventory of supplies necessary for training and requests supplies as needed.
• Maintains current reality orientation boards, bulletin boards and resident information boards on assigned area. Prepare holiday displays appropriate to the season for sensory stimulation and reality orientation purposes.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the objectives and techniques used in rehabilitation, recreational, occupational or physical therapy.
• Ability to assist in or carry out therapy programs.
• Ability to observe patients' progress and identify changes.
• Ability to maintain records.
• Ability to participate in planning and organizing therapy programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of experience in an occupational, recreational, rehabilitation, or physical therapy program or in providing direct services in a health or rehabilitative services program.
• Completion of a training program to become a physical therapy aide can substitute for the required experience.
• College or vocational/technical training can substitute at the rate of 30 semester, 45 quarter or 720 classroom hours for each year of the required experience provided such education includes two courses in occupational therapy, physical therapy, health or rehabilitation, psychology or education.
• An official statement under s. 837.06. The affidavit must include conspicuous language that the intentional false execution of the affidavit constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree. The employing agency shall retain the affidavit.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance; $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
  • (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Opportunities for career advancement
• Tuition waiver for public college courses

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.