Niagara Children’s Centre is hiring for:
SPEECH
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST (1.0 FTE PERMANENT)
This position is a member of the
bargaining unit which is represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union, and as such will be bound under the terms of the collective agreement.
Role:
The
Speech-Language Pathologist works to assess, identify, and treat communication
difficulties in children in conjunction with parents and other caregivers to
enhance quality of life and participation.
Communication difficulties may be in one or more of the following
areas: language (understanding others
and expressing themselves); speech (sound development); fluency; voice/resonance;
hearing (aural habilitation); need for augmentative and alternative
communication; and pragmatics.
As an
employee of Niagara Children's Centre, the Speech Language Pathologist may be
assigned to one or more services. These
include inter, multi- or uni-disciplinary services, and specialized programs
provided by the Centre such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Specific
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities
of the position include:
- Assessment: The Speech-Language
Pathologist assesses a child to identify the presence or absence of communication
difficulties/delays. Assessment includes
the administration of appropriate standardized and non-standardized test
materials, and analysis and interpretation of these tests. Child observations and caregiver interviews are
also conducted. Assessment may take
place at a variety of locations, such as the Centre, the child’s home, childcare
setting, school, and other community settings as well as virtual through telepractice.
- Treatment Planning: On the
basis of the assessment, the Speech-Language Pathologist collaborates with the
child/family, teacher, school, relevant
therapists, and other community partners who may be involved, to identify goals
and to establish an appropriate treatment plan to achieve the goals.
- Intervention: The Speech-Language
Pathologist provides intervention to achieve the goals outlined in the
treatment plan and to maintain, develop or restore the child’s highest
potential for communication. Intervention
may be provided in various environments through a variety of service delivery
options (e.g., individual, group, parent coaching, home programming) on a
direct, indirect or consultative basis and either in a uni-disciplinary setting
or as part of an inter-disciplinary team. The Speech-Language Pathologist is also
responsible for providing education to families and the community, as
well as engaging in promotional activities on behalf of the Centre.
- Supervision: The Speech-Language
Pathologist may be requested to supervise Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDAs)
as part of his/her regular workload and in doing so, must adhere to the
policies established in the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language
Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) position statement for Supportive Personnel.
SLPs may also be requested to supervise SLP/CDA students or co-op students
within their routine caseload management.
- Documentation: The Speech-Language Pathologist is
responsible for daily/regular documentation within the Centre’s Client Information
System in accordance with CASLPO guidelines (such as intervention notes,
consultation notes, reports at assessment or transition/discharge, records of
appointments)). In addition there may be
documentation requirements such as internal and external referrals; funding
application forms on behalf of families and correspondence with families and
community partners.
- Education: Through conferences,
lectures and other training the Speech-Language Pathologist will keep current
in new approaches and research, particularly if assigned to a specialized
clinic or role with emerging and changing knowledge and technology. SLPs may be
designated by their Clinical Manager to provide specific interventions based on
their clinical experience and additional training, such as providing
caregiver-focused group education opportunities (e.g. Hanen groups),
assessment/treatment of children within the Ontario Infant Hearing Program (Auditory-Verbal
Therapy for children with identified permanent hearing loss), and caregiver-mediated
therapy (e.g. Autism Navigator as per Ontario Autism Program).
Health and Safety
The
Speech-Language Pathologist will comply with the duties assigned to Workers as
per Section 28 of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act
Accountability and Freedom to Act:
The
incumbent has latitude for discretion within practices and procedures covered
by precedents, Centre policy and procedure manuals, standards of the College of
Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario, and supervisory review.
Key Relationships:
The
Speech-Language Pathologist is concerned with the effectiveness of all
relationships that affect the Centre.
The following are particularly significant to the position:
External
- Children,
and their families and other caregivers
- Regulated
professionals involved in the care of the child/family such as physicians,
public health personnel, nurse practitioners
- Teachers
and Educational Assistants in all school and child care systems
- Staff
of Community partner agencies and programs
- Vendors
and suppliers of equipment and services being considered for use by
clients
- Staff
at relevant government offices/branches that are responsible for approval
and/or provision of client specific funding, services or equipment
- Case
managers at HNHB Home and Community Care Support Services (if assigned to
Acute Home Care)
Internal
- Staff
at all levels in the organization
Performance Factors:
In
assessing the performance of an incumbent in this position, the following
factors will be utilized as appropriate:
- Workload and productivity relative to
established standards
- Clinical outcomes – the degree to which care
plans are well-designed and goals are achieved
- Documentation
– the accuracy, relevance and timeliness
- Relationships
and communication with clients and
families, colleagues, staff from other agencies
Position
Specifications:
Education:
The
minimum specifications for an incumbent will include:
- Registration and member in good standing with
the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
Knowledge/Skills:
An
incumbent will be expected to have the following knowledge and skills:
- A sound understanding and skill in the
practice of Speech-Language Pathology
- The ability to work effectively with children
and their families
- Sufficient computer literacy in Microsoft
Office to complete work requirements
- The
ability to complete assessment and provide intervention virtually via
telepractice
- Experience in working with children with a variety of speech, language, social communication and augmentative and alternative communication goals
- Bilingualism would be a huge asset
Other:
- Access
to reliable transportation and possession of a driver’s license valid for the
province of Ontario is required
- A current criminal reference check for
vulnerable populations
- CPR certification
- Evidence of non-violent crisis intervention
training