Speech Language Pathologist

Speech Language Pathologist

Under the general direction of the Children's Support Services Supervisor, provides speech-language pathology services to infants and toddlers and their families enrolled in the Birth to 3 Program. Evaluates and assesses children with developmental delays, disabilities, diagnosed conditions, or atypical development and provides early intervention services within the areas of communication, speech and language development, feeding, and swallowing.

Using a family-centered, culturally responsive approach, provides recommendations, parent/caregiver education, coaching, consultation, and early intervention services designed to strengthen the ability of families and caregivers to support their child's development within everyday routines and activities.

Participates in Primary Coach Approach to Teaming (PCATT) in natural environments. Through this approach, a multidisciplinary team of professionals works collaboratively to provide evaluation, assessment, early intervention, consultation, coaching, and education to support children and families. The Speech Language Pathologist may serve as the primary coach for assigned children and families and provides discipline-specific consultation to other team members. Services are provided in the child's natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate. Performs related duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Participate in multidisciplinary evaluations and assessments to assist in determining eligibility for the Birth to 3 Program in accordance with Federal and State requirements.

Administer and interpret standardized and informal assessments, caregiver interviews, clinical observations, and other appropriate assessment methods, primarily in the areas of communication, speech and language development, feeding, and swallowing.

Participate with families, Service Coordinators, and other team members in the development, implementation, review, and modification of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs). Assist in identifying child and family strengths, needs, concerns, priorities, resources, and functional outcomes.

Provide evidence-based early intervention services within the child's natural environments, including homes, childcare settings, and community locations. Services may address receptive and expressive language, speech sound development, social communication, early communication and literacy, augmentative and alternative communication, and feeding and swallowing.

Use family-centered coaching strategies to strengthen parents' and caregivers' ability to support their child's development and participation within everyday routines and activities.

Serve as the primary coach for assigned children and families when identified by the team. Provide discipline-specific consultation to other primary coaches and participate in joint visits when additional expertise is needed.

Participate in team meetings and collaborate with other Birth to 3 professionals regarding child and family progress, intervention strategies, barriers, developmental or medical changes, additional assessment or referral needs, and transition planning.

Provide families and caregivers with education and resources related to communication and language development, speech sound development, feeding and swallowing, social communication, augmentative and alternative communication, and other identified developmental needs.

Identify concerns that may require additional assessment, medical consultation, or referral and provide appropriate professional recommendations in collaboration with the family and IFSP team.

Evaluate and make recommendations regarding assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication, feeding equipment, and other supports within the scope of speech-language pathology. Complete letters of medical necessity or other supporting documentation as required.

Participate in transition planning for children exiting the Birth to 3 Program and collaborate with families, school districts, health care providers, community agencies, and other partners as appropriate and with required parental consent.

Complete required documentation for Birth to 3 services, Medical Assistance/Medicaid, private insurance, and other funding sources, including applicable physician orders, plans of care, prior authorizations, progress documentation, and supporting clinical information.

Maintain timely, accurate, complete, and confidential case records in accordance with Federal and State requirements, Birth to 3 Program requirements, professional standards, payer requirements, and Department policies; prepare correspondence, reports and other records as required.

Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices, early childhood development, caregiver coaching, assessment practices, communication development, feeding and swallowing, assistive technology, and other areas relevant to pediatric speech-language pathology and early intervention.

Complete ongoing continuing education and training requirements to maintain State license and Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) through American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).

Complete child-specific training regarding medical conditions, developmental needs, adaptive equipment, feeding and swallowing needs, or other areas necessary to safely and effectively support assigned children and families.

Provide community education, consultation, and information regarding the Birth to 3 Program, early childhood development, and Department services. May participate in outreach activities and assist in developing educational materials or social media content consistent with Department policies.

Works a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the families and meet families in their natural environment, including in the home, childcare settings, and other community locations. Maintain availability for evaluations, IFSP meetings, team meetings, joint visits, transition activities, training, and other required program responsibilities.

It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities but provides professional consultation, discipline-specific expertise, coaching, and guidance to professional and para-professional staff of the Health & Human Services Department, in accordance with the organizations' policies, procedures and applicable laws.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from an accredited college or university; must be either registered under Chapter 459 of the Wisconsin Statutes or licensed under Chapter 115 and Public Instruction 34 of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI); at least two years of related experience in evaluating clients with delays in development of communication skills; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from supervisors, clients, and the general public.

Ability to communicate tactfully, clearly, concisely, accurately and to establish a therapeutic relationship with clients.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, and percentages. Ability to calculate and understand standardized testing scores. Ability to calculate chronological age.

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete and abstract variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet, spreadsheet, Word Processing, and State and County data systems software.

Licensed under Chapter 115 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and Wisconsin Public Instruction 3 (PI 34). Certificate of Clinical Competence preferred. Clinical Fellowship considered. Must have or be able to obtain certification to bill through Medical Assistance.

Knowledge of techniques, methods and principles utilized in speech and language therapy.

Knowledge of community based health and human services delivery system and resources available in the community.

Ability to make independent decisions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other agencies, and the public.

Ability to provide complex services in accordance with principles common to the specialty of the employee.

Ability to apply laws of confidentiality appropriately.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to weather conditions; hazards of driving; unclean inside environmental conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.