Senior Speech & Language Therapist

OVERVIEW:

As a Senior Speech Therapist your role involves assessing clients, planning therapy interventions, implementing therapy plans in accordance the given service delivery models for clients with speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders across the programmes. In addition, providing supervision and mentoring to the entry-level speech and language pathologists, and clinical education for the students pursuing speech pathology programmes. The job role also includes training teachers, parents, and volunteers involved in the treatment process, and educates clients and their caregivers. You may work collaboratively in transdisciplinary team comprising of professionals, teachers, and caregivers. The job scope also entails managing risk and quality, performing departmental administration and operations, facilitating continuing education, participating in research, and team development activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

I Clinical

1. Conduct functional assessments to determine required therapy interventions for routine and complex cases, e.g.

- Speech - articulation, fluency, voice (including respiration, phonation and resonance)

- Language (involving the parameters of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics; and including disorders of receptive and expressive communication in oral, written, graphic and manual modalities)

- Reading disorders or dyslexia

- Oral, pharyngeal, cervical oesophageal and related functions (e.g., dysphagia, including disorders of swallowing and oral function for feeding; orofacial myofunctional disorders)

- Cognitive aspects of communication (including communication disabilities and other functional disabilities associated with cognitive impairment)

- Social aspects of communication (including challenging behaviour patterns, ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities)

2. Formulate client-centred and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely) goals in

collaboration with clients and relevant stakeholders.

3. Communicate the assessment results, intervention plans, goals and outcome measures

to relevant stakeholders.

4. Select appropriate and specific outcome measures to enable evaluation of therapy

progress and outcomes.

5. Provide intervention to clients on one-to-one basis, group or classroom setting, based on

their needs in relation to feeding/swallowing, language, literacy, speech, and

communication skills, using service delivery models in line with the Association’s SLP departmental

policies and procedures and professional guidelines.

6. Evaluate therapy progress and outcomes using the recommended therapy outcome

measures at regular intervals.

7. Modify therapy plans based on client performance and motivation as well as therapy

outcome measures collected.

8. Identify, assess, and prescribe assistive devices as required by the clients to improve

function.

9. Liaise with and empower parents in client handling skills to ensure and encourage

continuity and consistency of SLP related strategies incorporated both at school and home

10. Communicate and engage in discussions and meetings of client-related issues with

parents, caregivers, volunteers, and members of the rehabilitation team.

11. Formulate discharge plans, if required, based on client performance in consultation

with relevant stakeholders.

12. Identify risks of clients, environments, situations, and equipment before, during and after clients' contact

13. Improve intervention by adoption of new techniques and technologies

14.Assist and participate in the development of new clinical services.

15. Review continuity of care plans.

16. Monitor efficient documentation and records of clientele for reference and retrieval purposes.

II. Education, Training and Development:

1. Keep abreast of latest development in service delivery of speech therapy related areas to ensure that therapy programs are evidence-based.

2. Develop intermediate and advanced competencies across different areas of SLP required according to the clientele served

3. Participate in continuous professional development, based on the learning needs and competency gaps identified

4. Conduct in-house sharing and training programs for relevant staff, teachers, parents, caregivers, and volunteers in the organisation.

5. Plan clinical attachment programmes for students’ placement

6. Assist to develop and implement client and caregiver educational materials and training programmes.

7. Participate and provide expertise in the Trans-disciplinary team

8. Assist in clinical supervision and clinical education duties, as assigned and with support from other Senior SLPs.

9. Monitor performance and development of direct reports.

10. Monitor utilisation of equipment and resource materials.

11. Recommend procurement of equipment and resource material.

III. Research and Development

1. Conduct research where feasible and relevant to areas of speech therapy service delivery, as directed by Head, Speech, and Language Pathology Department.

2. Participate in research and projects relevant to areas of speech language therapy service delivery, where possible, with guidance from HOD.

IV. Maintenance

1. Monitor therapy aides to ensure that all speech therapy equipment is maintained regularly by regular servicing and repair, when deemed necessary.

2. Ensure that therapy aides record and update proper inventory of all equipment and fixtures.

3. Supervise and check the updated list of equipment loan library items and document them for Internal Audit.

V. Administration

1.Ensure that accurate speech therapy records of clients are updated and maintained regularly in Client Information Management System (CIMS) and are kept securely according to PDPA.

a. Initial assessment

b. Re-assessment

c. Therapy goals, aims and objectives discussed with Trans Disciplinary team

d. Session notes

e. Clients’ Progress Report

f. Review therapy plan when necessary

g. Schedule planning

h. Discharge planning

i. Review and documentation of client incident reports

j. Client incidents reports tagged to supervisors

k. Maintain database of all clients

l. Submit monthly therapy report

2. Assist in quality improvement projects, with guidance from HOD.

3. Manage feedback from stakeholders

4. Implement clinical audit strategies and new clinical processes and systems

5. Review audit finding at a unit or department level

6. Monitor individual clinical and non-clinical key performance indicators.

7. Monitor performance and development of direct reports.

8. Monitor utilisation of equipment and resource materials.

9. Recommend procurement of equipment and resource material.

10. Perform measures to ensure workplace safety and health

11. Participate in the related working committees and projects that involve multidiscipline: sub-committees or projects, as directed by the HOD

VI Advocacy

1. Coordinate and liaise with relevant agencies for partnerships in creating awareness and advocacy in accordance with the vision and mission of the Association as directed by Head, Speech, and Language Pathology Department.

2. Embrace and act on the Association’s vision and mission in creating awareness and advocacy for stakeholders.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors/ Masters’ Degree in Speech and Language Pathology / Therapy
• Full Registration under AHPC, with at least 3-4 years of experience in the assessment and management of adults with feeding and swallowing disorders, and in providing language and social communication intervention to school-aged children
• At least two years of direct experience in providing supervision and mentoring to entry-level and junior therapists, and / or students pursuing speech and language therapy.
• Relevant knowledge and experience in working with children and young adults with special needs and a wide range of disabilities.
• Experience in providing tele-consultation / intervention will be an added advantage.
• A heart and passion to serve in the community sector

Working Location: 65 Pasir Ris Drive 1 Singapore 519529

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified on the outcome of the job application.