County of Santa Clara

Physical Therapist II

County of Santa Clara$137K — $166K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of clinical experience in physical therapy across multiple specialties.
  • Valid Physical Therapist license or proof of application in California.
  • Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to perform advanced patient care tasks under minimal supervision.
  • Familiarity with regulatory practice requirements and clinical training methods.

Responsibilities

  • Evaluate patients' physical therapy needs in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
  • Develop, implement, and document individualized treatment plans and goals.
  • Supervise and mentor Physical Therapist Assistants and therapy students.
  • Design therapeutic interventions addressing movement-related impairments and disabilities.
  • Communicate and coordinate patient care with families and other professionals.
  • Participate in program development and clinical training for staff.
  • Conduct indirect patient care duties such as documentation and discharge planning.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with no deductibles or co-pays.
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and 13 holidays.
  • Robust retirement options including 401(k)-like and CalPERS pension plans.
  • Health Flexible Spending Accounts for tax-free healthcare expenses.
  • Dependent Care Assistance Program for managing dependent care costs.
  • Life and disability insurance for financial security.
  • Employee Assistance Program offering mental health and wellness resources.
  • Education reimbursement for professional development and training.
Full Job Description
Salary : $137,654.40 - $166,541.44 Annually
Location : San Jose Metropolitan Area, CA
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Job Number: 26-R11-B
Department: Santa Clara Valley Health Care - Valley Medical Center
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 8/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description

Under general supervision and using clinical expertise, evaluates the physical therapy needs of inpatients and outpatients in a hospital or California Children's Services (CCS) setting. Develops, implements, and documents treatment plans and goals to meet patient needs and acts as a clinical resource specialist to other therapists.

Typical Tasks

Patient Care
  • Performs complex patient care tasks under minimal supervision with advanced skills in clinical reasoning, problem-solving and treatment interventions;
  • Examines, evaluates, and tests individuals with mechanical, physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations, and disability or other health and movement-related conditions;
  • Determines diagnosis of physical impairments or movement-related functional limitations, prognosis, plan of therapeutic intervention and frequency/duration of intervention;
  • Designs, implements and modifies therapeutic interventions to alleviate movement-related impairments, functional limitations and disabilities, including but not limited to: therapeutic exercise; movement-related functional training; gait training; manual therapy including soft tissue and joint mobilization; therapeutic massage; airway clearance techniques integumentary protection and repair techniques; debridement and wound care; and physical agent, mechanical and electrotherapeutic modalities;
  • Integrates examination, evaluation, movement-related diagnosis, prognosis and intervention in a manner designed to maximize outcomes, and modifies treatment accordingly;
  • Evaluates for, recommends, applies and, as appropriate, fabricates movement-related assistive, adaptive, protective, prosthetic and supportive devices and equipment, and trains patients in their use;
  • Provides patient and family/caregiver education and training;
  • Performs indirect patient care duties that may include: communicating/coordinating care with patients, families/caregivers, and other professionals; discharge planning; documenting all elements of patient management; participating in patient care conferences; reviewing medical records; charging for patient care; referring to other professionals or resources;
  • Works to prevent injury, impairment, movement-related functional limitation or disability including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health and quality of life for all age groups;
  • Performs the tasks listed above for an assigned caseload of patients;
  • Serves as consultant in an area of clinical specialty to staff therapists;
  • May act as a clinical liaison in specialty clinics.

Clinical Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Supervises Physical Therapist Assistants, Physical Therapy students and interns, Therapy Technicians, students and volunteers as assigned, and conducts clinical competencies for same;
  • Provides clinical guidance to other Physical Therapists in areas of expertise;
  • Assists Physical Therapist III with training of staff therapists, assistants and students;
  • Leads other therapists working on special projects or who are assigned to satellite facilities;
  • Provides orientation and training of new service personnel.

Administrative Tasks
  • Prioritizes and schedules patient treatment as assigned;
  • Assumes selected responsibilities of other staff during temporary absences;
  • Assists in the day to day operations of assigned service;
  • Assists with development and implementation of service policies, procedures, goals and objectives.

Professional Development
  • Participates in internal and external professional and educational activities to enhance personal and professional growth;
  • Participates in research as appropriate;
  • Assists with program development as assigned;
  • May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
  • Other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are acquired through two (2) years of clinical experience as a physical therapist in two (2) or more specialty areas relevant to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and/or in pediatric therapy.

Special Requirements
A valid license, or proof of application for licensing, from the Physical Therapy Board of California to practice as a Physical Therapist in the State of California.

Knowledge of:
  • Principles, methods, equipment and theory of the practice of physical therapy;
  • Pathologies and injuries that result in physical impairment;
  • Evaluation and treatment methodologies as applied to complex patients;
  • Regulatory practice requirements;
  • Basic business aspects of therapy services, such as utilization management, charging practices and regulatory compliance;
  • Basic principles of clinical supervision and clinical instruction.

Ability to:
  • Develop, implement and adapt treatment programs;
  • Apply advanced clinical skills in treating difficult and complex cases;
  • Evaluate patients and interpret clinical data and make clinical judgments;
  • Clinically supervise, train and evaluate staff;
  • Lead other therapists and aides;
  • Instruct and provide consultation to therapists and other team members in designated clinical specialty;
  • Establish and maintain effective relationships with others;
  • Communicate effectively with patients, staff, and other health professionals;
  • Write clearly and concisely;
  • Efficiently manage time and priorities;
  • Demonstrate appropriate patient handling skills (assist, support, lift and transfer patients);
  • Reach, grasp, manipulate and carry a variety of objects.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED for your application and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating process has begun. Please include the name of employer, job title, dates of employment and number of hours worked per week for questions asking about your experience. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Vague, incomplete or non-responsive answers could result in no or low scores in a competitive rating process. Do you understand this requirement?
  • Yes
  • No

02

Do you possess a license to practice as a Physical Therapist in California, or status as a Physical Therapist license applicant, issued by the Physical Therapy Board of California?
  • Yes
  • No

03

If you marked yes on the above question, please list your license number and expiration date. If you do not have a license please write "N/A."
04

How many years of clinical experience do you possess in the Physical Therapy Services field?
  • None
  • Less than a year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six years or more

05

Please describe your clinical experience as a Physical Therapist. Please include the name of employer, job title, duties performed, dates of employment and number of hours worked per week. If none, write "N

About County of Santa Clara

The County of Santa Clara is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay and encompasses 1,312 square miles. It has one of the highest median family incomes in the country, and a wide diversity of cultures, backgrounds and talents. The County of Santa Clara continues to attract people from all over the world. With more than 70 agencies/departments and 22,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, provides quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health protection, environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need. The County's population of nearly 1.9 million is one of the largest in the state, and the largest of the nine Bay Area counties. Its population constitutes about one fourth of the Bay Area's total population. There are 15 cities including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale ranging from Palo Alto to the north, to Gilroy in the south. San Jose is the largest city in the County, with a population of 1.035 million, and is the administrative site of County Government. A significant portion of the county's land area is unincorporated ranch and farmland. Nearly 92% of the population lives in cities. The County of Santa Clara operates 27 parks covering more than 50,000 acres including scenic lakes, streams, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
Learn more about County of Santa Clara

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