Date: November 2006 Job Title : Speech Language Therapist Department : Child Rehabilitation Service Location : Wilson Centre Reporting To : Therapy Team Leader: Child Rehabilitation Functional Relationships with : Internal Regional Rehabilitation Therapists Regional Rehabilitation Nurses Professional Advisors Maori Health workers Administration Staff Neuro Psychologists Paediatricians Consultants External Starship Children s Hospital District Health Board Service providers nationally Family Support Co-ordinator Statutory Agencies Taikura Trust, other needs assessment agencies Non governmental agencies, e.g. Stroke Foundation, Brain Injury Trust Education Providers & Special Education Providers Child Services (CCS, SES, Schools, Pre-schools etc) Adaptive equipment agencies, e.g. Talklink, Enable Parent groups Medical ENT Consultants, e.g. ENT Specialists Homai School for the Blind Purpose : To provide Speech Language Therapy service as part of the provision of a Child Rehabilitation service that is multi disciplinary, collaborative, responsive to the needs of children and young people and upholds the principles of partnership and family centred care. Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 1
KEY TASKS Speech Language Therapy services are delivered in accordance with the NZSTA adopted clinical guidelines Communicating Quality 2 and the NZSTA Code of Ethics. These tasks include assessment, programme planning, intervention, discharge planning and review, education, review and discharge planning and liaison with appropriate service providers. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Speech Language Therapist is a member of the team and works within all collaborative team processes. Client s eating and drinking and or communication skills are assessed and appropriate goals of intervention, abilities and restrictions identified with the team, including the family/whanau. Interventions are planned within developmental, cultural and environmental contexts agreed with the family/whanau and relevant team members providing individual, interdisciplinary or group therapy, education or provision of relevant equipment. Regular liaison occurs with other team members and joint interventions are planned as appropriate. Treatments are implemented in a timely, safe and effective manner in accordance with the agreed plan. Regular monitoring and documentation of client s progress and satisfaction with service delivery is carried out. Education is provided for parents and caregivers and external/internal team members enabling them to support the intervention programme. Discharge planning is timely, effective, and involves consultation with relevant community personnel as required. Administrative tasks related to the requirements of the Child Rehabilitation Service are completed in a timely and efficient manner Documentation is up to date, legible, complete and is written in accordance with Waitemata District Health Board Standards Equipment and environmental systems are maintained effectively and efficiently Statistics are completed in accordance with centre procedure Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 2
KEY TASKS Effective working relationships are formed with the key persons in the paediatric health, education, community and other Child Services EXPECTED OUTCOMES The Child Rehabilitation Service works within the community of the client and is responsive to this community. Communication is maintained with each child s wider health / education teams. Relationships are established within the cultural context of the client and family/whanau. Participation in Child Rehabilitation Service functioning occurs The Speech Language Therapist will be an effective and active member of Child Rehabilitation Service. Contribution and attendance at the Child Rehabilitation Service staff meetings occurs Staff will contribute to service development and review as appropriate Participation in supervision, professional development and training is undertaken in an ongoing and regular basis Continuing professional development record is updated annually with supporting documentation. High quality professional skills and standards of care are achieved and maintained Staff feel supported and maintain a high degree of job satisfaction Clients are satisfied with the service provided. To recognize Individual Responsibility for Workplace Health and Safety under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 Company health and safety policies are read and understood and relevant procedures applied to their own work activities. Workplace hazards are identified and reported, including self management of hazards where appropriate. Can identify health and safety representative for area. Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 3
KEY TASKS Work practice is maintained within Waitemata District Health Board frame work EXPECTED OUTCOMES Work within the Privacy Act, Patient Codes of Rights and Responsibilities Additional tasks as instructed by the Therapy Team Leader to meet the overall purpose of the position. Responsive to requests. VERIFICATION: Employee: Department Head: Date: Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 4
PERSON SPECIFICATION POSITION TITLE: Speech Language Therapist Minimum Qualification New Zealand Speech Language Therapy Degree or Diploma. Professional qualification ratified by NZSTA (overseas Qualified employees). Membership of New Zealand Speech Language Therapy Association Current Manual Drivers Licence. Preferred Specialist Equipment Assessor. Experience 3 years post graduate paediatric SLT experience Ability to work in partnership with families Knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi and its implications in the health sector Experience in paediatric dysphagia. Personal Attributes Excellent communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills. High level skills in time management. Problem solving abilities. Self motivation. Ability to work within a collaborative team and also independently. Highly developed clinical reasoning skills. Commitment to reflective practice. Experience in working with children in the 0-16 age group. Experience in acquired language disorders and acquired neurological conditions. Experience in the development of pre-verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Experience with augmentative communication. Experience of paediatric tracheotomy management. Commitment to ongoing professional education. Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 5
Waitemata Health -JOB DESCRIPTION Page 6