Speech Language Pathologist

**Speech Language Pathologist**:
Competition #

3676

Job Title

Speech Language Pathologist

Department

Inpatient Acute Care

Status

Permanent

Work Type

Full-time

Affiliation

ONA Paramedical

Shift Assignment

Days

Bilingualism Required

Yes

Police Check Requirement

Vulnerable Sector Check

Site

RLHC-ONA Paramedical

Salary Information

43.37 to 55.25

Application Closing Date

Posted Until Filled

**KEY FUNCTION**:
Provide assessment, treatment, consultation, and education to patients/clients with speech, language, cognitive communication, voice, fluency, oral motor, and swallowing disorders, including augmentative and alternative communication, and direct therapy.

**REPORTING**:
Under the general direction of the Clinical Manager, Intensive Rehabilitation Unit.

**DUTIES**:

- Provide assessments of communication to patients/clients with swallowing disorders, including screening, identification, evaluation, and diagnosis.
- Assess, select, and develop augmentative and alternative systems and devices for individuals who are limited in their ability to communicate verbally, and provide education and training in their use.
- Facilitate intervention for communication and swallowing disorders, including health promotion, prevention, counselling, treatment, consultation, management, rehabilitation, and education.
- Collaborate with members of the health care team and with the patient, family, and caregivers to provide holistic person-centred care.
- Educate and mentor support personnel, new graduates, and students in accordance with the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario’s (CASLPO) regulations and position statements.
- Educate and train persons who regularly interact with patients/clients (e.g. family, caregivers, relatives, hospital staff, other health care professionals, and supportive personnel) to create an environment that promotes optimal communication and swallowing.
- Advocate on behalf of individuals with communication and swallowing disorders and those who are at risk.
- Participate in administrative functions, program planning/project participation, meeting/committee membership policy development, and research as required.
- Keep abreast of current facts and trends in applicable clinical areas.
- Follow the standards of practice and guidelines of the CASLPO, and participate in their mandatory Quality Assurance Program.
- Ensure documentation and record keeping is performed in accordance with regulatory and HSN policies.
- Determine and align improvement projects with HSN’s Strategic Plan; monitor and adjust to achieve goal outcomes.
- Evaluate patient care and satisfaction on an ongoing basis and formulate solutions for improvement.
- Educate and promote health, safety and wellness in the work place.
- Participate in education and training specific to current, relevant federal and provincial health and safety legislation, standards and guidelines.
- Represent the department or program on various committees and in meetings as required.
- Perform other duties as required.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**EDUCATION AND TRAINING**:

- Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology, from an accredited university.
- Current Certificate of Registration in good standing with the CASLPO is required.
- Ministry of Labour “Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps” training certificate is required.

**EXPERIENCE**:

- Training or recent experience working with Inpatient and Outpatient adult and geriatric populations is preferred.
- Training or recent experience with conducting and interpreting Video-Fluoroscopic evaluations of swallowing function is preferred.

**KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES**:

- Demonstrated ability to make critical decisions that can impact a patient’s safety, health status, and independence/autonomy.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Pathophysiology of Communication and swallowing disorders, and the effects of other diseases and conditions on patients (e.g. pulmonary disease, effects of medications, and abnormal lab values).
- Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based best practices and the difference between treatment efficacy, effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and efficiency to achieve quality outcomes and performance improvement.
- Demonstrated superior critical thinking, academic questioning, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to practice in a self-directed manner.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, physicians, and other health care professionals.
- Demonstrated ability to use an ethical and evidence-based framework to prioritize which patients/clients would benefit most from services given limited resources.
- Demonstrated training, experience or utilization of lean methodology for process improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to independently identify issues, plan improvements, measure success and continue improvement.
- Demonstrated excellent computer skills with proficiency