About the job Speech Pathologist
Position Description: Speech Pathologist
Position Title: Speech Pathologist
Team: Speech Pathology Services
Reports To: Speech Pathology Clinical Lead
Team Lead
Therapy Manager
Location: Bunbury / Manning / Manjimup
Hours: Fulltime 38 hours / Part time X hours / Casual
Pay Banding Level: PB001-PB002
Authority Level: Level 1 - Therapy Team
Primary Purpose: The primary focus of an Physiotherapist is to ensure high quality service provision.
Principle Accountabilities:
1. Clinical Responsibilities:
o Responsible for the Speech Pathology management of individuals with a variety of conditions including neurological and developmental conditions.
o To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment to measure client progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
o To provide Speech Pathology input into comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment, treatment and discharge.
o To discuss services and treatment options with potential clients and/or their primary caregivers.
o To provide comprehensive assessment, costing and rehabilitiation reports, including recommendations to Case Managers, Insurers, primary health organisations, private organisations and/or local authorities.
o To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their rehabilitation plans wherever possible.
o To provide support, consultation and advice on relevant Physiotherapy issues to clients and caregivers.
o To contribute to the management of complex cases, ensuring the coordination of services involved such as health, social, statutory and voluntary services.
o To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural, social and linguistic differences in addition to their cognitive and physical disabilities.
o To demonstrate high level of clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice.
o To contribute to clients care and delivery of service by developing skills beyond ones own professional training.
2. Communication:
o To use appropriate methods of communication with clients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and their understanding of the condition.
o To provide specialist Speech Pathology Management plans, advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
o To communicate effectively and collaboratively with all health and social care sectors to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service. This will include case conferences, joint sessions, and documentation.
o To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and can work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
o To work in collaboration with/refer various schemes (NDIS/ICWA/DVA etc) and Primary Health Organisations (State Head Injury Unit, Fiona Stanley etc) settings in repose to identified patient need.
o To contribute to regular goal planning and ensure that information is shared/ communicated on a frequent basis.
o To deliver detailed Speech Pathology management plans, concepts and ideas, to clients and carers. This requires using high levels of communication skills with clients who may have severe cognitive and physical impairment or may be in a highly emotional state.
o To reinforce diagnosis of terminal, progressive and non-recovering conditions in a skilled and empathetic way.
o To key work several complex cases by acting as the lead clinician and ensuring a seamless service for the client by responding in a timely manner and liaising with other services when a clients condition or situation changes.
3. Research, Development and Service Improvement:
o To have an active role in the planning, development, coordination and delivery and evaluation of the occupational therapy service to clients in line with national guidelines (e.g. Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management) and NICE guidelines.
o To advise Clinical and Team Leaders on issues of service delivery.
o To be responsible for the implementation of clinical policies and protocols.
o To make recommendations for, and lead service development and improvements.
o To be responsible for ensuring a high level of quality assurance over all clinical services.
4. Financial Responsibility:
o To assess and identify new equipment as appropriate to a clients clinical need. This may be privately funded or through requests to other agencies.
o To be aware of the funding arrangements of all clients.
o If appropriate, be aware of the limits and restrictions of funding from third parties.
o Where appropriate, liaise with third parties.
5. Teaching, Training and Professional Development:
o Clinical Lead and Advanced Clinician Speech Pathologists to participate in the teaching and training of staff and other professionals as agreed.
o To develop a Clinical Professional Development Portfolio and a Personal Development Plan, according to professional standards, that documents the progress of gaining knowledge in areas of clinical expertise required for improving standards for self and service. This will be in collaboration with Anderson NDS developmental pathways.
o To be able to demonstrate own clinical skills to a range of personnel including clients, carers, professional colleagues, and other agencies.
All therapists are responsible in encouraging a positive team culture, where innovation and participation in service improvement in a safe, supportive and efficient environment is advanced.
This position description is not exhaustive, and the incumbent may be requested to perform any reasonable task within the scope of the position as required by the Physiotherapist.
Vulnerable Children:
Due to this position having contact with children, Andersons is committed to child protection, and you will be subject to Safety Checks under the Children and Community Service Act 2004 (WA) at the time of hire and thereafter as per the relevant legislation. You must have a working with children clearance always maintained whilst employed with us.
Key Relationships
Internal:
o Therapy Manager
o Team Leaders
o Clinical Leaders
o Service Coordinators
o Administration
External:
o Support Coordinators
o NDIS Plan Managers
o ICWA Claims Consultants
o Workers Compensation Claims Consultants and Injury Management Advisors
o DVA Claims Managers
o Aged Care Support
o Equipment Suppliers
o GPs and Primary Health Organisations
o Police
o Supported Accommodation Providers
Person Specific:
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications, Licenses and Insurance
o Qualification in Speech Pathology (Undergraduate or Masters)
o Registration with Speech Pathology Australia and associated Private Indemnity Insurance.
o Full valid Drivers License
o Working with Childrens Check
o NDIS Worker Screening Check
o Relevant Post Graduate Diploma in Neurological Rehabilitation.
Experience
o Experience or interest in Neurological rehabilitation.
o Emotional intelligence and resilience.
o Flexibility, ability to prioritise, multi-task and problem solve.
o Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills.
o Demonstrated computer literacy.
o Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
o Experience in Neurological Rehabilitation.
o Experience in working within the disability sector
Values
o Demonstrates behaviours consistent with Andersons values.
You agree to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to perform a variety of tasks to promote and support our initiatives.
You are required to meet the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requirements as set out in the Anderson Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. This includes successfully completing any health and safety training provided by us.
You are required to maintain a standard of health which will allow for the performance of all duties and functions of the position.
Legal Requirements:
1. You are required to work within the guidelines of Speech Pathology Australia as set out with the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professionals.
2. You are to always comply with Speech Pathology Australias code of ethics and professional conduct https://www.speechpathologyaus...
3. You are required to maintain your current competency-based practise as per the Speech Pathology Australias Professional Standards. https://www.speechpathologyaus...
4. You must notify the Director of concerns relating to the risk of harm to the public of another Health Practitioner practicing below the required standard of competence.