Job Description

SUMMARY

The Speech Therapist addresses receptive and expressive communication skills, oral motor skills and feeding skills. The therapist is part of a team made up of family and other professionals working together to meet the needs of child and family.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/MAJOR TASKS

1. Work cooperatively with families, caregivers, Support Coordinators and Early Intervention team so that outcomes of the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) and IEP are addressed in a cordial, professional manner.
2. Provide documentation required by Lancaster County Early Intervention and Early Intervention Quality Measurement Tool so that efficient and effective delivery of supports is reflected.
3. Provide accurate documentation required by the Early Childhood Services (ECS) Department so that billing and data collection is timely and follows ECS policies and procedures.
4. Maintain professional standards of continued education so that skills reflect current evidence-based methods and philosophy and meet compliance with Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention Rules and Regulations.
5. Provide assessment and evaluation of enrolled children as required by the IFSP reflecting best practice so that compliance with Early Intervention rules and regulations is maintained.
6. Manage schedule, client caseload, paperwork, and preparation time in an efficient manner so that realization rate (productivity) is reflected as ECS expectation.
7. Consult with parents and caregivers in the community setting as per the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan).
8. Provide direct intervention supports as per the IFSP.
9. Participate in the development of the IFSP with parents/caregivers and early intervention team.
10. Maintain professional documentation (session notes, evaluation reports, progress reports, and summaries) within established timeline and according to policies and procedures.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Provide ongoing developmental assessment for each child.
2. Consult with the Early Intervention team (IFSP) as needed.
3. Meet with the program director and other staff regularly.
4. Consult with Support Coordinators as needed.
5. Maintain confidentiality as per HIPAA, FERPA, and EI procedural safeguards.
6. Expectation to fulfill all requirements of a Clinical Fellow as laid out by the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
7. Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. Primarily in homes or community locations and preschools with unknown environmental challenges
2. Office time with exposure to toners and ink cartridges.
3. Seasonal displays may include hay, leaves, flowers, pine needles, etc.
4. Noise level can be high at times.
5. Potential exposure to communicable childhood diseases and/or other communicable diseases.
6. Client may carry fluid or blood-borne pathogens.

QUALIFICATIONS / PREREQUISITES

1. COMMUNICATION

a. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals served, supervisors, and co-workers, clients and parents of clients using strong and understandable language skills in reading, written work and comprehension.

2. SKILLS (Possess the following):

1. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and professional documents.
2. Ability to respond to common inquiries from parents, case workers, or members of the Early Intervention provider community.
3. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors.
4. Ability to use standard office computer software.
5. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
6. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
7. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
8. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
9. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
10. The employee is frequently required to stand, work; sit; use hands to finger; handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
11. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
12. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

3. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Experience in an Early Intervention program or pediatric setting preferred but not required. Professional internship.

4. EDUCATION

Masters degree in Speech Pathology from an ASHA accredited program; provisional licensure in the state of PA and to be otherwise eligible for a Clinical Fellowship Year in accordance with ASHA guidelines.

5. OTHER

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Child Protective Service Act (Act 33) compliance and FBI clearance, NSOR, Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s license/ acceptable driving record.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I have reviewed and understand the requirements including the essential job functions and physical demands of my job description and I agree that I can perform these requirements with or without reasonable accommodation. Excentia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications