Job Description

This position is responsible for evaluating patients referred to Speech Therapy, organizing and implementing individualized therapeutic programs with patients, and recording patient progress and response to treatment.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care

• Assesses complex/undifferentiated abnormalities (e.g. Second Opinions) and develops the necessary treatment plans
• Implements process flows improvements for safer and more efficient patient care across the areas they lead.
• Adopts a patient centered approach to practice
• Performs a comprehensive evaluation on each patient utilizing recognized and standardized assessment protocols relevant to the patient’s condition.
• Uses standardized outcome measures to quantify the patient’s status.
• With the relevant qualifications and experience, performs videofluoroscopic studies, videoendoscopic evaluations, and videolaryngoscopic evaluations to contribute in evaluation of Dysphagia and Dysphonia.
• Interprets and reports test results to facilitate medical diagnosis in partnership with the referring physician
• Determines therapeutic plan, including the need for therapy, frequency of treatment, focus for intervention and duration of therapy
• Administers therapeutic interventions that are evidence based to address highlighted problems.
• Selects assistive devices to improve patient’s communication, inclusive of speaking valves for tracheotomized patients and voice prosthesis for laryngectomized patients.
• Facilitates active participation of the patient in service provision
• Acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient to protect the patient’s health, safety and rights.

Clinical/Professional Knowledge

• Coordinates and Supervises all Operational Medical and Clinical aspects of the Speech-Language Pathology, Swallowing and Tacheostomy Programs. Participates in the development of departmental programs, policies, systems and procedures; and is responsible for their effective implementation.
• Oversees skills/competencies assessments and managing clinical performance of junior staff members
• Supervises the work of junior staff in the delivery of care to patients and provides advice and support as required.
• Assists with conduction of performance appraisals of junior staff members
• Utilises and allocates SLT staff to enable the whole service to run smoothly
• Ensures appropriate staffing levels within specialty-specific teams before approving leaves of junior staff members, including but not limited to, personal leaves, business leaves, training & development leaves, and so forth.
• Audits of clinical documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and frameworks
• Gives feedback to the departmental manager for budgeting purposes
• Produces and maintains legible, accurate, and appropriate records, in keeping with regulatory requirements.
• Adheres to appropriate protocols for the care of the patient populations in which assigned.
• Adheres to the CCAD Inpatient Therapies and Rehabilitation core standards of care.
• Incorporates the CCAD Professional Practice model and patient safety principles into clinical practice; reports errors and near-misses
• Adheres to HAAD recommendations of attaining 20 CME every two years through continued professional development activities to maintain licensure.

Professionalism

• Provides services within Speech Pathology scope of practice and personal competence
• Participates in multidisciplinary management of patients, ensures coordination of treatment goals and discharge planning
• Provides services upholding professional ethical values (e.g., adheres to professional codes of ethics and standards of practice when making decisions with client).
• Maintains confidentiality regarding patient and family information by promoting professional interdisciplinary communication.
• Engages in activities that support the development of the therapy profession (e.g., participates in in-service presentations, local and national conferences, professional committees, and public education of other health care professionals).

Interpersonal Communication

• Provides support, teaching, specialist advice to other staff within the team on a planned and spontaneous basis. e.g. less experienced Therapists; technical instructors / assistants, medical or work experience students on observational visits
• Provides counseling and education to patients and their families about the patient’s diagnosis and associated impairments (swallowing, voice, motor speech and/or communication impairments), as well as importance of oral hygiene, any necessary diet modifications, compensatory treatments, and tube feeding (as necessary)
• Communicates effectively with multi-disciplinary team members in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to maintaining health and treatment of disease.
• Provides patient care information as requested to contracted insurers and/or reimbursement entities within the guidelines of the confidentiality information policy
• Communicates results and recommendations for improving communicative function to referral sources and outside agencies if required

Practice-Based Learning; Personal Development

• Utilizes self-evaluation and feedback from clients and other provider’s to reflect upon actions and decisions to continuously improve knowledge and skills.
• Engages in professional development and lifelong learning activities (e.g., actively participates in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills; integrates new knowledge, skills and behaviors into practice).
• Incorporates own experiences, education, research, and best available resources to plan and deliver therapy services.
• Participates in the orientation, competencies and appraisals of junior speech and language therapists.
• Identifies the development needs of junior speech and language therapists and ensures opportunities to apply their developing knowledge and skills.

System-Based Learning; System Improvement

• Identifies opportunities to improve the service in order to provide the best patient care within resources available and make recommendations for change.
• Takes a lead in the development and the implementation of local evidence based policies on matters relating to diagnosis and treatment, in response to local and national guidance.
• Contributes to quality assurance and service development projects.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Core

• Ability to conduct an oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and respiratory function/expiration examination.
• Ability to administer standard and nonstandard speech/ language assessment procedures .
• Ability to conduct a clinical bedside swallowing evaluation.
• Ability to develop and implement intervention strategies appropriate to individual’s medical condition, speech, language, swallowing and/or feeding disorder, cognitive status and behavioral status.
• Knowledge of and skill in selecting and implementing aided and unaided augmentative or alternative communication systems.

Advanced (Essential)

• Ability to conduct an oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and respiratory function/expiration examination.
• Ability to administer standard and nonstandard speech/ language assessment procedures .
• Ability to conduct a clinical bedside swallowing evaluation.
• Ability to develop and implement intervention strategies appropriate to individual’s medical condition, speech, language, swallowing and/or feeding disorder, cognitive status and behavioral status.
• Knowledge of and skill in selecting and implementing aided and unaided augmentative or alternative communication systems.

Advanced (Essential)

• Ability to perform Video fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS)
• Ability to manage tracheostomized patients

Advanced (Preferred)

• Ability to perform Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
• Ability to manage laryngectomized patients.
• Ability to evaluate objectively and subjectively and treat patients with Voice Disorders.
• Ability to evaluate and provide treatment to patient with hearing disabilities/cochlear implants.

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Speech & Hearing, or Speech Language Pathology, Speech or Communications Sciences & Disorders is required

Experience

• Minimum of six (6) years of postgraduate experience in the field of adult Speech-Language Therapy/ Pathology.