Pay and Benefits
Therapists are hired as hourly employees primarily paid by treatment, but also with other paid time. Taxes are taken out and the company pays part of your taxes (versus an independent contractor). The rate is better per hour than salaried, but could vary (there are always options, like doing an extra periodic evaluation, to keep your hours where you want them to be). By keeping things per hour, each therapist can decide (rather than it imposed on them) how much they want/need to earn and how hard they want to work. There is an initial 3 month probationary period, in which some benefits (accrued paid time off, continuing education, and increased amount of time for report writing) have not begun. At the end of the probation period, the rate of pay is also reviewed.

There are formulas for many things, for example, report writing time. VERY thorough formal evaluations and reports are required. For new evaluations, the amount of time is based on the length of the evaluation. Initially, payment is 1-1/2 Xs the length of the evaluation for report write-up (e.g. a 2-hour evaluation would get 3 hours of write-up time; a 3-hour evaluation would get 4-1/2 hours for write-up). After completing 5 evaluations, the therapist receives 2 Xs the length of the evaluation. Therapists need to write specific goals for each child, both to guide therapy, but also to make writing progress reports easier and more efficient. Progress reports that are 6 months or longer receive one hour pay; less than 6 months, 1/2 hour.

Following the first 3 months of employment, paid time off (not specified as to whether it is sick leave, vacation, holiday, etc.) is accrued. For a full-time equivalent, the rate begins at about 12 days a year (but based on paid hours of work and only 9 days the first year since you do not begin to accrue time until after 3 months of employment). Additional details can be found in a separate document.

Paid time includes weekly paid supervision/mentoring time (one hour a week), twice a month staff meetings (one hour each), transportation time for home or school consultation, and, of course, treatment! Initially, it is more realistic to plan for 6 treatments a day rather than 7. Once the person is used to the routine, if they feel a certain day is an "easy" day and they want another treatment, that's fine; however, make sure first (and learn the clinic, where things are located, and routines). It is much easier to add an additional treatment than to tell a family that we were wrong about being able to have a slot for them.

Some things are considered a joint responsibility of the therapist and employer-- insurance and continuing education. Currently, health and vision insurance is available for employees seeing 15 or more treatments per week through a small group policy with Blue Cross of CA (subject to change of policies in the future). The employee may choose from a variety of plans and 50% of the premium comes out of the individual’s paycheck (pre-tax dollars) and the company pays 50%. The policy can begin 30 days after employment. After the initial 3-month period of employment, the employee can obtain continuing education reimbursement for 1/2 of the course registration fee, up to $350/year (1/2 of $700 in courses).

After 3 years of employment at Development is CHILD’S PLAY!, a therapist qualifies for a SEP retirement contribution (10 to 25% of your gross for the year). Another option (after 3 years) is to then lease space and begin your own private therapy practice. Additional details can be provided in the future.