SPEECH PATHOLOGIST 2

Job Duties

Develop speech pathology goals and objectives to meet the needs of the population served; participate in committees and activities of the facility in developing service delivery needs assessments and evaluations, policies and procedures; and participate in accrediting and quality review programs as assigned.

Evaluate speech, language, communication, and swallowing skills of clients; interview parents or primary caretakers for subjective and objective information; may utilize questionnaires and child development inventories to obtain developmental histories; review the findings of physicians and other professionals; administer and interpret results of standardized and non-standardized test instruments to determine the patient's/client’s current level of functioning; and analyze all data in order to formulate a diagnosis and prepare an evaluation.

Formulate individual treatment plans that outline the goals, strategies and method of treatment; review assessments and diagnostic findings, medical reports and other data; select individual or group therapy and recommend the purchase of communication equipment or assistive devices to improve or augment speech, language, and/or swallowing skills.

Implement treatment plans by conducting individual, group therapy or staff facilitated therapy to increase the individual's level of functioning; and counsel, coach and support parents or other caregivers in implementing activities and intervention techniques to use in their daily routine to enhance the patient's/client’s developmental progress.

Maintain current knowledge of technological advancements in communication equipment and assistive devices; research professional literature; attend workshops and seminars; and network with colleagues to keep abreast of developments in the field.

Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to obtain and provide information concerning treatment and patient/client progress; provide recommendations for speech and language therapy; and coordinate efforts in specific areas of treatment.

Maintain charts and records related to patient/client progress; document information concerning assessments, treatment modifications, and pertinent medical data; write comprehensive evaluation, treatment, prior authorization requests and progress reports.

Establish and maintain professional working relationships with outside agencies, schools, teachers, aides, therapists, community training centers, early intervention centers and others as necessary to coordinate treatment efforts and optimize the speech and language skills of patients/clients.

Supervise direct care personnel, technical staff, and/or student interns who assist in diagnostic testing and implementation of individual and group therapy; evaluate performance and develop reports as required.

Provide in-service training for residential, early intervention or treatment staff and parents including training in sign language, augmentative communication systems, dysphagia management techniques, and other speech and language issues as identified; provide instruction and demonstrate specialized techniques to improve the outcomes of individual patients/clients.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Working knowledge of: normal and abnormal communication development; oral peripheral examination techniques; speech therapy assessment and intervention techniques; identification, evaluation and diagnosis of communication disorders; treatment modalities for communication disorders; operation, use and care of sophisticated equipment and assistive devices used in speech and language therapy; dysphagia management techniques; prosthetic devices and their application; teaching resource materials and activities that remediate speech and language problems.

Ability to: provide advanced level therapeutic services specific to the population served; counsel, coach and support patients/clients, parents and caretakers in specific techniques and activities designed to develop and improve communication; maintain current knowledge of developments in the field including innovative therapeutic methods, equipment and assessment tools; provide work direction to support staff and others as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must possess a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association including completion of the Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY).