Status: Full-time Permanent
Location:
St. Catharines, Ontario
Open
Date: November 6, 2025
Who We Are
Niagara Children’s Centre is
recognized throughout the Niagara Region as the provider of rehabilitation and
support services to children and youth with physical, developmental and
communicative delays and disabilities.
Core services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and
language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services
and therapeutic recreation. Our family-centred programs aim at helping each
child achieve their own unique potential within their home, school and in the
community.
As an employee of the Centre,
you will be part of a community dedicated to creating a welcoming and
supportive environment for the children and youth we serve. We are a place where families are at the
heart of all we do. We continue to provide innovative ways of delivering high
quality services and strengthening our family-centred care philosophy. We want
to see “Niagara’s Children and Youth at Their Best!” Join a team that makes a
real difference in the lives of children and youth every day.
The 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.
Key Responsibilities:
- 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
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
Why Join Us?
- We provide a total rewards package that
supports your well-being and supports and encourages continuous professional
development and growth.
- Provide a competitive hiring range of $83,050.5 - $97,812 commensurate with experience.
- Participation in a Defined Benefit
Pension Plan (HOOPP) from day one of employment with us, we offer healthcare
and dental benefits, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance program.
Application Process
If you are inspired by the work of
Niagara Children’s Centre and would like to join our team, we want to hear from
you! To review the job description and pursue
this career opportunity, please visit our website at www.niagarachildrenscentre.com
We will be reviewing candidate
submissions as they are received and move forward with interviews. Early
submission is encouraged.
Niagara Children’s Centre is committed
to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable
accommodation is available under the Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an
interview.
We thank all those who apply but only
those selected for further consideration will be contacted. The selected
candidate will be required to participate in a Criminal Background Check.