Speech Language Therapist

**Description**:_ Speech Therapists provide evidence-based family-centered pediatric speech and language services to patients and their families with speech, language and/or relevant developmental or learning needs. They are a resource to the family in supporting the child’s communication development by providing screening, assessment, consultation, individualized intervention, parent training, education and home programs with the goal of empowering individuals and/or parents with skills and strategies to continue supporting the child in their development._
**Essential Job Functions and Key Accountability**:** Clinical Responsibilities**
- Evidence Based Practice: Ensure that all aspects of clinical service is consistent with evidence-based practices and internationally recognized standards or guidelines.
- Assessment: Administer, interpret and analyze assessments using formal and informal measures of speech, language and communication. Review and synthesize information from medical and other professional reports to determine appropriate therapeutic plan and recommendations for patients with complex needs.
- Treatment: Provide therapeutic services to individuals and their families in the areas of speech, language and communication, including specific communication disorders, speech sound production, fluency, apraxia of speech, expressive and receptive and written language, and Autism spectrum disorders. Initiate referrals to other services and programs as necessary.
- Documentation: Compose written documentation as required by the hospital medical records. Establish and maintain ongoing data collection of patient progress for treatment planning and medical records through consultation with parents, direct therapeutic work with patients, anecdotal records and assessment.
- Continuing Education: Value and pursue life-long learning and professional development. Establish annual professional development goals and engage in ongoing educational opportunities aligned with professional goals and clinic needs, including journal reviews, interest groups, attendance at workshops and conferences. Obtain necessary continuing education units for license maintenance and beyond.

**Operations**
- Caseload Management: Develop and implement effective and efficient process to receive patient inquiries and demands for clinical services.
- Financial Administration: Manage and review referrals and necessary documentation required for insurance eligibility. Collaborate with relevant personnel to complete all necessary administrative tasks, with the support of administrative team, to obtain required pre-authorization for evaluation and treatment and to submit insurance eligibility requests, as needed.
- Patient Rights and Responsibilities: Ensure patient confidentiality, privacy and security in all forms of communication. Fulfill requirements of informed consent.
- Hospital Staff Requirements: Maintain current Basic Life Support certification. Complete annual staff training and OHS training requirements. Demonstrate understanding and familiarity with Hospital policies and procedures.

**Competency Standards**
**Clinical/Technical Competencies**:

- Evaluate, analyze and diagnose speech, language and communication disorders with the use of appropriate formal and informal assessment tools.
- Develop and implement individualized, family-centered speech therapy plans for patients, including ongoing assessment and modification of treatment plans as needed.
- Communicate cordially, effectively and in a timely fashion with patients, families, medical professionals, and other relevant personnel to ensure collaboration and coordination of services.
- Work independently to provide the full range of speech services, while being open to external consultations and collaboration.
- Self-motivated with strong organizational and management skills.
- Clear and coherent communication in documentation and reporting.

**Communication**
- Coordination of Services: Coordinate and provide necessary communication of all aspects of patient care and management with all relevant personnel including, family members, school teachers, and medical professionals, in timely fashion.
- Parent Education: Provide expertise and training to parents, families and caregivers in areas of specific communication disorders as a vital part of wholistic family-centered care. Discuss, demonstrate, model and provide communication strategies to support recommendations and treatment progression outside the clinic setting.
- Community Resource: Serve as a resource and support to community stakeholders for the therapeutic care of the patient and their family. Engage in school meetings and parent conferences as requested and clinical beneficial to the patient. Liase and collaborate with medical professionals, colleagues and other relevant personnel to ensure a coordinated approach to service for the patient.
- Public Relations: Utilize problem solving, conflict resolution, negotia