Job Title: Speech-Language Pathologist

Immediate Supervisor: Clinical Director

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Summary:

A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is a healthcare professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs play a vital role in improving the lives of individuals who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties, working to enhance their ability to communicate and participate in daily life. The SLP will work to improve the ability to communicate and swallow effectively for individuals residing in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ICF/IID).

The ideal candidate will be experienced in working with individuals with developmental disabilities, possess strong leadership and communication skills, and demonstrate a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assessment and Diagnosis:
  • Conducts the evaluation according to the standardized or recommended techniques and procedures including timely documentation.
  • Evaluates a client's speech, language, voice, and swallowing abilities to identify the nature and extent of any communication or swallowing difficulties.
• Treatment Planning:
  • Based on assessments, develops individualized treatment plans that address specific needs and goals for each client.
  • Attends interdisciplinary team meetings to develop and review Individualized Plans of Care (IPCs) for each client.
• Therapy and Intervention:
  • Follows each treatment plan using an objective, measurable and documented approach.
  • Provides direct therapy to improve speech, language, and swallowing skills, using a variety of techniques and strategies.

• Teaches residents how to make sounds while improving their voices and maintaining fluency
• Helps residents improve sentence structure and vocabulary used in written and oral language
• Works with adults in developing and strengthening muscles used to swallow.

• Education and Counseling:
  • Educates clients and their families about communication disorders, treatment options, and strategies for managing difficulties.

• Counsels residents and families on ways to cope with swallowing and communication disorders.

• Collaboration:
  • Works collaboratively with other professionals, such as nurses, psychologists, BCBAs, and therapists, to ensure a comprehensive approach to care.
• Documenting and Record Keeping:
  • Maintains timely and accurate records according to policies, procedures and regulations with included evaluations, screenings, progress notes, discharge summaries, and therapy logs

Qualifications:

• Education, Certifications, & Licenses:
  • Minimum of a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech-Language Pathology.
  • Current, active state of Oklahoma licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist required, with a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) preferred.
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
  • First Aid and CPR certification (or willingness to obtain within a specified timeframe).
  • Professional Crisis Management certification (or willingness to obtain within a specified timeframe).
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience in an ICF/IID, long-term care, or similar healthcare setting.
  • Experience and strong background working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is required.
• Skills & Abilities:

• Analytical skills for selecting the best diagnostic tools and analyzing results to identify an accurate diagnosis while developing an effective treatment plan.
• Communication skills for communicating diagnoses, test results and available treatments in terms clients and their families can understand.
• Compassion when working with individuals who are frustrated by the difficulties they are experiencing.
• Critical thinking skills for adjusting treatment plans as required and identifying alternative ways to help.

• Attention to detail for maintaining notes on treatment and progress.
• Listening skills for listening to concerns and symptoms of clients so they can decide the most appropriate course of treatment.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand, sit, bend, lift, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and move intermittently. Use hands to handle or feel. Ability to turn on the knees, back, wrist, shoulders, and grasp with both hands. Must be able to frequently lift/move up to 50lbs. and occasionally lift and move more than 50lbs.
• Ability to handle sensitive and emotionally charged situations with patience and professionalism.