Speech Therapist (ST)

• Speech Language Pathologist / Speech Therapist 

Position:  Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) / Speech Therapist (ST)

Job Summary: Provide skilled therapy intervention and treatment to patients in the home setting.  This care includes appropriate utilization of treatment plans and assessment skills.  Careful monitoring of the patient’s status, progress toward goals, and compliance with physicians orders are essential components of this position.  Speech language pathologists are responsible for teaching patients and their caregivers while preparing the patient and/or family for discharge as appropriate.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements: 

1. Graduate of an accredited college with a Master’s degree majoring in speech pathology with a current license.
2. Holds a certificate of clinical competence and licensure granted by the American Speech and Hearing Association.
3. Minimum of two years speech pathology experience.

Responsibilities/essential functions: The person in this position must be able to perform the following essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

1. Provide services in speech pathology or audiology in accordance with the physician’s plan of care. 
2. Assist the physician in assessing the client’s level of functioning and the development (and revise as necessary) of the plan of care by applying appropriate tests for speech, hearing and language disorders. 
3. Record and report the client’s reaction to treatment and any changes in the client’s condition to the physician and/or the Director of Nurses. 
4. Instruct and advise the client, family, and other health team personnel in the phases of speech pathology in which they may assist the client. 
5. Recommend hearing tests by audiologist when necessary. Checks hearing aids.
6. Assess the client’s communication, oral-motor integrity, cognitive status, memory, problem solving activities, hearing, speech fluency, and quality. 
7. Cooperate and consult with appropriate staff to provide education when requested and arranged by the Director of Nursing. 
8. Evaluate and regularly re-evaluate the speech pathology needs of the client; initiate, develop, implement and make necessary revisions to the client’s plan of care. 
9. Initiate diagnostic, preventive, and rehabilitative procedures as appropriate to the client’s care and safety.  Make referrals to other disciplines as indicated by the needs of the client or document rationale for not doing so. 
10. Observe signs and symptoms and report changes in the client’s condition to the physician and/or Director of Nursing. 
11. Teach, supervise, and counsel the client and family regarding home procedures and other care needs as appropriate to the client’s condition. Use agency educational material as appropriate.
12. Coordinate the total plan of care and maintain continuity of care by communicating with other health professionals.  Attend client care conferences. Initiate client care conferences for complex and/or multidisciplinary clients when needed or helpful to ensure good coordination of care. 
13. Keep abreast of speech therapy trends and knowledge through seminars, CEU’s, self-study and workshops.
14. Participate in in-service programs.
15. Prepare the patient and/or family for discharge as appropriate.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform to the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Elements

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to communicate effectively;
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to review a wide variety of materials in electronic or hard copy form;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other related equipment;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to safely lift, move, or maneuver whatever may be necessary to successfully perform the duties of their position;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to efficiently function in a general office environment; and
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to efficiently function in a general office environment, with frequent travel to a variety of field sites.

Environmental Elements

Employee works in an office environment sometimes with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Employee will have to travel to a variety of patient homes and perform in conditions that vary greatly depending upon the client’s home environment. Some homes will be clean, neat, and maintained at a comfortable temperature. Other homes may be cluttered, dirty, with an uncomfortable temperature.

The above list reflects the essential functions and other job functions considered necessary of the job identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job, or assigned by supervisory personnel.  This job description is used as a guide only and not inclusive of responsibilities and job duties.