Speech Therapist Position

Job Summary:

The Speech Therapist will be responsible for providing individualized and appropriate education for each student, including the writing, maintaining, and implementation of an IEP and all required paperwork, in accordance with Federal and State Regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides speech and language therapy to individuals with speech and language disabilities in the following areas: language, articulation, fluency, voice, oral motor, phonological, alphabetic principle, phonics and social language disorders, and other appropriate areas.
• Develops, implements, and assesses Individualized Education Programs and participates in school wide implementation of a standards aligned system.
• Understands and applies applicable laws and policies to assess speech and language disorders.
• Develops and implements specific treatment regimens and treats diagnosed disabilities.
• Organizes materials and equipment prior to therapy.
• Obtains accurate and adequate diagnostic information through formal and informal assessment in order to assess the effects of speech and language disorders on educational performance.
• Plans and manages assessment and intervention of student instruction.
• Documents communications with parents about students' progress other than IEP reports.
• Demonstrates a willingness to cooperate toward IU and district goals.
• Establishes appropriate schedule based on caseload assignment, which meets the identified needs of the student.
• Manages behavior strategies for effective student engagement.
• Creates and maintains environment that demonstrates rapport and mutual respect.
• Exhibits clear and accurate oral and written communication.
• Demonstrates flexibility in planning and implementing therapy.
• Provides appropriate individual and/or group speech/language therapy to individuals with speech and language disabilities.
• Provides appropriate and correct reinforcement to student responses appropriately.
• Structures therapy session to minimize the probability of inappropriate behavior.
• Consults/communicates with classroom teacher and related staff on a routine basis concerning students' progress.
• Assesses appropriate use of communication materials and devices and programs and implements assistive technology communication technology devices.
• Serves on committees to plan, develop, and implement procedures that would enhance service delivery model for speech/language programs.
• Demonstrates the ability to train all staff on use of assistive technology.
• Establishes positive working relationships with parents, district personnel, and agencies.
• Makes use of additional support services (assistive technology, nurse, psychological services, social agencies) when appropriate.
• Keeps supervisor apprised of relevant information pertaining to his/her schedule and caseload.

Requirements:

• PDE certification in Speech and Language, required (Ed Sp/Instructional I).
• Valid PA Speech Language Pathologist License, preferred.
• ASHA, Clinical Competency Certificate, preferred.
• Demonstrates a proficient understanding and utilization of Microsoft Office Suite and other software packages for use in the Special Program and Services Department.
• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with external and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain complete confidentiality.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated by patience, understanding, and congeniality.
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates organizational skills and time management skills, providing for productivity, accuracy, and attention to detail in the carrying out of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates the ability to implement and comply with PA Individual Education Program process.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritize assigned tasks.
• Completes tasks with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently and maintain departmental deadlines.
• Demonstrates the ability to make professional decisions.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead and mentor all staff working with visually impaired/deaf and hard of hearing/special needs students.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide training on the equipment/materials, as needed, to the student/staff involved.
• Demonstrates accurate knowledge of state standards.
• Demonstrates a philosophy of lifelong learning.
• Proficient in the use of technology to communicate with students, parents, staff, administrators, and community members.
• Possesses the skills to provide the highest level of customer service, with patience and knowledge of the department's services.
• Ability to attend work regularly at assigned work hours subject to lawful leave rights and responsibilities.
• Maintains current knowledge of programs/services, such as surrogate parenting, health care options, local services providers, and other relevant PDE initiatives.
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, and communicate (vision, hearing, and speech) to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.
• Ability to independently ambulate in and around work areas.
• Ability to travel to and from assigned work locations without employer support.
• Ability to exhibit appropriate manual dexterity to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.
• Ability to conduct a safety restraint protocol which requires:
  • a normal degree of flexibility;
  • the ability to stand, walk, run, and shuffle for at least several minutes;
  • the ability to kneel on one and two knees and then stand up;
  • the ability to bend the trunk at 45 degrees and twist to either side;
  • the ability to grasp firmly and raise hands above the head;
  • the ability to learn and correctly demonstrate multi-step physical skills

Working Conditions:

The Speech Therapist will work in a school setting, providing services to students with speech and language disabilities. The position requires the ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, and communicate (vision, hearing, and speech) to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.

Physical Requirements:

The Speech Therapist must be able to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, and communicate (vision, hearing, and speech) to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.

Travel Requirements:

The Speech Therapist may be required to travel to and from assigned work locations without employer support.

Authority:

The Speech Therapist will have the authority to perform all functions listed below in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Provides an individualized and appropriate education for each student, including the writing, maintaining, and implementation of an IEP and all required paperwork, in accordance with Federal and State Regulations.
• Uses ability/age appropriate materials and supplies for all students.
• Develops, implements, and assesses Individualized Education Programs and participates in school wide implementation of a standards aligned system.
• Understands and applies applicable laws and policies to assess speech and language disorders.
• Develops and implements specific treatment regimens and treats diagnosed disabilities.
• Organizes materials and equipment prior to therapy.
• Obtains accurate and adequate diagnostic information through formal and informal assessment in order to assess the effects of speech and language disorders on educational performance.
• Plans and manages assessment and intervention of student instruction.
• Documents communications with parents about students' progress other than IEP reports.
• Demonstrates a willingness to cooperate toward IU and district goals.
• Establishes appropriate schedule based on caseload assignment, which meets the identified needs of the student.
• Manages behavior strategies for effective student engagement.
• Creates and maintains environment that demonstrates rapport and mutual respect.
• Exhibits clear and accurate oral and written communication.
• Demonstrates flexibility in planning and implementing therapy.
• Provides appropriate individual and/or group speech/language therapy to individuals with speech and language disabilities.
• Provides appropriate and correct reinforcement to student responses appropriately.
• Structures therapy session to minimize the probability of inappropriate behavior.
• Consults/communicates with classroom teacher and related staff on a routine basis concerning students' progress.
• Assesses appropriate use of communication materials and devices and programs and implements assistive technology communication technology devices.
• Serves on committees to plan, develop, and implement procedures that would enhance service delivery model for speech/language programs.
• Demonstrates the ability to train all staff on use of assistive technology.
• Establishes positive working relationships with parents, district personnel, and agencies.
• Makes use of additional support services (assistive technology, nurse, psychological services, social agencies) when appropriate.
• Keeps supervisor apprised of relevant information pertaining to his/her schedule and caseload.

Secondary Functions:

This Job Description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.

Employees will be required to perform other duties as assigned.