Program Technician/ Speech Pathology Aide - Shepherd Pathways post acute brain injury rehabilitation

Program Technician/SLP Aide

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

The Program Technician/SLP Aide at Pathways assists team members in the care of patients through implementation of patient treatment plans within respective department. Areas of focus typically include community re-entry, life skills activities, routine activities of daily living, and meeting behavioral needs of patients. This hands-on job interacts and engages with patients, guiding and monitoring their status via the clinician directed treatment plan.

Program Tech Job Responsibilities

• Guides and monitors patients (adolescent, adults and geriatrics) in the planning and simplification of tasks, and in the actual performance of general life skills.
• Supervises patients on individual life skills outings.
• Maintains therapy areas and equipment for cleanliness and prepares them for the start of each treatment session, as well as at the beginning of the day and clean up at end of the day.
• Coordinates and performs patient and department related administrative tasks.
• Participates in departmental meetings and in services, trainings as directed.
• Instructs new team members and volunteers in departmental maintenance tasks.
• Initiates and completes special assignments as requested.
• Participates in educational opportunities to advance knowledge and skills related to professional development.
• Performs consistent with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
• Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.

Speech Pathology Aide Specific Job Responsibilities

• Completes speech pathology clinical tasks under the direction of the supervising SLP.
• Follows Clinical plan of care as directed by assigned Speech Pathologist.
• Guides patient through assigned HEPs or clinical tasks for functional communication, cognition, voice, and functional swallowing exercises.
• Completes documentation in a timely and thorough manner.
• Maintains continuing education and training as required by SLP therapy manager and state licensure guidelines.
• Ensures that required clinical observations are documented and keeps a copy of the documents for 2 years per state licensure guidelines.
• Meets with SLP therapy manager at least semi-annually to review personal and professional goals.
• Participates in SLP program/departmental initiatives as directed by SLP Therapy Manager.
• Maintains licensure renewal on biennial basis.

Required Minimum Education

• High school diploma required.

Required Minimum Certification

• BLS required.
• Active Georgia Speech Pathologist Aide license

Required Minimum Experience

• One (1) year previous health care experience.

Required Minimum Skills

• Basic computer skills.
• Upon hire the program tech must complete the required tasks/training for acquiring the State of Georgia Speech Pathology Aide License within 2 years.
• Current Georgia Driver's License and insurable by Shepherd Center's insurance policy required by program.
• Must be able to closely follow detailed instructions.
• Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, prioritization and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments and prioritizing the specific needs of the patient.
• Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seek opportunities for improving skills.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
• Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
• Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree preferred in a health-related field.
• Active Georgia Speech Pathologist Aide license.
• Bilingual in Spanish

Physical Demands

• Need to have a great deal of manual dexterity.
• Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients. Involves some latitude for judgement with regard to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.

Working Conditions

• Normal patient care environment.
• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.