Speech/Language Therapist
Position Summary
This position is responsible for providing diagnostic, consultative, prescriptive and instructional services to students who exhibit delays and/or impairments in the areas of language, speech, voice and fluency. Emphasis is on the provision of speech and language in the students' natural environment and/or in the classroom. The Speech/Language Therapist is also involved, to a significant degree, with the use of augmentative communication devices, assistive technology, social language, pragmatics and other aspects of oral communication that affect a student's educational progress. The goal of the Speech/Language Therapist is to enable children to develop their communication skills to impact the student's educational progress and post-school experiences.
SUPERVISION
This position may supervise a paraprofessional, if assigned to a student caseload.
SCHEDULE
Days: Monday - Friday
Work Hours: 7:30 am. - 3:30 p.m.
Hours Per Shift: 8
Shifts Per Pay Period: 10
Position FTE: 1.00
Applications are being accepted from current County employees as well as members of the public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Diagnostic and Evaluation
The Speech/Language Therapist, as a member of the individual education plan team, shall evaluate students suspected of having Speech/Language needs.
The Speech/Language Therapist will participate in the in-school staffing and screening processes as appropriate.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall formally reevaluate students enrolled in the Speech/Language program on an as-needed basis.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall provide continuous evaluation of student's progress, document progress, and report that progress to the student's parents, classroom teacher and administrators.
The Speech/Language Therapist will remain current with the best-practice approaches and tools for conducting assessments, will collaborate with others to conduct assessments (including assistive technology assessments) and will use information gathered to determine instruction and intervention for students with communication difficulties.
The Speech/Language Therapist will provide intervention that is appropriate to the age and speech/communication needs of each individual student and is selected through an evidence-based decision making process.
Demonstrate knowledge of child growth and development and individual student needs by providing relevant and age appropriate instruction according to the individual education plan (IEP), personalized learning plan, and educational best practices.
Reporting and Prescriptive Planning
The Speech/Language Therapist shall develop a written educational evaluation on each student referred and evaluated as having suspected Speech/Language needs.
The Speech/Language Therapist, in consultation with parents and classroom teachers, shall develop an IEP on each student enrolled in the Speech/Language program.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall meet with student's parents and other IEP team members annually to review the individual educational plan.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall continually review student's IEP's, measure and document progress and update the plan as objectives and goals are achieved or student's needs change.
Complete all Medicaid requirements for school-based claiming.
Instructional Services
The Speech/Language Therapist, in cooperation with the classroom teacher and other involved parties, shall schedule instructional time that is appropriate to meet student's communication needs.
Confer with the classroom teacher as requested concerning any educational needs of the student related to speech/communication.
The Speech//Language Therapist shall provide instructional services necessary to achieve the goals and objectives listed in student's IEP's.
Make available to teachers instructional ideas, including assistive technology, that are appropriate for students within the classroom situation.
Provide consultative services for school staff by learning, sharing and demonstrating specific techniques and working with school teams to facilitate relevant and consistent interventions for targeted students.
Other Services
The Speech/Language Therapist shall meet with parents whenever appropriate to discuss student progress.
Establish a system of documentation that is measurable, accountable, and reflects the personalized communication plan according to the needs of that student.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall perform other duties and functions requested by the Director of Special Education, his/her designee(s) and/or building administrators.
The Speech/Language Therapist shall assist in integrating the student back into the district classroom when indicated and continue supportive contact with the student and the classroom teacher until transition is completed.
Demonstrate a commitment county safety and risk management efforts.
Qualifications
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.
Education and/or Experience and Licensure
Must possess a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology and zero to six months of prior relevant experience. Must be eligible for a Wisconsin Teaching License #820 – Speech and Language Pathology.
Interactions and Communications
Provides specialized information and/or recommendations regarding an area of expertise. Additionally, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects students' privacy. During the course of duty, the employee will have access to all information that is needed to perform their job, but they shall not have, or seek to gain access to student information that is not necessary to perform their job.
Every employee, even one who does not use protected student information in their work duties, is obligated under the provisions of FERPA. All employees must protect student privacy and respond to situations that may put a student's privacy at risk.
Decision Making
This position has authority to make decisions that are within general procedures and protocols; supervision is available as required or requested. These decisions directly impact performance in the job and/or work unit within the department and information is provided to others for their decision-making.
Thinking and Problem Solving
In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges in this position tend to be diverse, but are typically covered by precedent or established practice.
Tools & Equipment Used
Typewriter Augmentative Communication Technology
Telephone Personal Computer/Printer
Calculator Assistive Technology
Copy Machine
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to environmental hazards, including chemical hazards (e.g. waste anesthetic, cleaning compounds, facility chemicals), physical hazards (e.g. kicking, biting, scratching student) and airborne and bloodborne pathogen exposure. Will be exposed to indoor and outdoor climate and weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to constantly use bilateral upper extremities, above/below waist and above/below shoulder height.
- Ability to constantly walk and stand
- Ability to constantly use hands and fingers to manipulate objects or to tend to student needs.
- Ability to constantly lift and move up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to frequently lift and move up to 75 pounds with aid of provided equipment, or a second person assist.
- Ability to frequently lift, push or pull 50 pounds unassisted with bending and twisting of trunk.
- Ability to communicate to students using verbal and/or non-verbal communications.
- Ability to identify student care needs through auditory and/or visual clues.
"Constant" means at least 2/3's of the shift.
"Frequent" means at least 1/3 of the shift.
Selection Process
TO INCLUDE:
Formal Walworth County Electronic Application
Education and Employment History Review
Oral Department Interview
Reference Check
Background Check
Post Offer Physical Exam
Drug Screen
Other job related tests may be required.