Speech Langauage Pathologist

at  Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Auth

The Sioux Lookout Area Primary Care Team (SLAPCT) provides primary health care, including chronic disease management, health promotion and disease prevention, to patients in Sioux Lookout Region including the 28 communities in the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority catchment.
Under the Sioux Lookout Area Primary Care Team (SLAPCT), the Speech Language Pathologist will work with patients, caregivers and community resources to provide assessment, consultation and development of treatment plans. The Speech Language Pathologist is a key part of the patient circle of care and will work to their full scope of practice. Responsibilities will include the provision of safe and competent care through the application of professional knowledge; technical aspects of professional practice and the demonstration of compassion, professionalism and respect. The Speech Language Pathologist will work with all ages, in both the clinic environment and communities providing home visits and interventions within patients’ homes.
The Speech Language Pathologist is directly accountable to the PCT Pod Manager.
The salary for the position is $85,895 - $110,682 / year and yearly travel stipend available

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Persons of First Nations ancestry will be given preference (OHRC, Part II, Special Employment)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology
• Registration (in good standing) with the College of Speech Language Pathology of Ontario
• Computer literate with experience in electronic client file entry
• Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Check
• Valid driver’s license

• Empower and support patients to improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Patients include those who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally or emotionally disabling
• Provision of Treatment plans that will enable patients to reach their full functional and work integration potential, in collaboration with all stakeholders (Patient, Primary Care Team members, Mental Health workers, etc)
• Provide aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Provide augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with severe expressive and/or language comprehension disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder or progressive neurological disorders.
• Work with people/family/caregivers who don’t have speech, language, or swallowing disorders, but want to learn how to communicate more effectively with those that do (e.g., work on accent modification or other forms of communication enhancement).
• Treat clients and enable them to reach their full functional and work reintegration potential in collaboration with all stakeholders (client, treatment team etc.)
• Develop treatment plans using an approach that includes both physical and psychosocial interventions
• Work with other health providers to formulate prognosis and recommend best course of intervention.
• Provide individualized treatment plans to develop, maintain, or augment function using evidence-based treatment modalities. Review and modify programming and treatment as needed.
• Maintain documentation as per college guidelines and SLAPCT policies and procedures
• Provide information to help facilitate understanding and access to the assistive devices, program and other funding initiatives for special equipment.
• Work collaboratively with community based service providers and agencies to meet identified needs and enhance delivery of care.
• Educate and counsel family members and caregivers regarding the impact of disability, injury or disease on the individual and their role in the treatment and recovery process.
• Educate and counsel to promote function and independence including health promotion and injury prevention.
• Sensitivity to the needs of parents/caregivers and the ability to support and involve them in programming
• Ability to use a wide range of assessment tools across age groups.
• Ability to work creatively with clients in both individual and in group settings, in the Centre, in the home and school settings
• Evaluate the home, work or school environment to assess the need for specialized equipment modifications and/or supports.
• Collaborates with other health care professionals and community resources to promote comprehensive and coordinated care.
• Recommends and arranges for specialist referrals and appointments in consultation with physicians and other health care providers.
• Facilitates referrals to other services.
• Advocate on behalf of clients for service, equipment, navigation and funding including provincial services, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and/or Jordan’s Principle processes.
• Exercises care and caution in protecting confidential and sensitive information related to clients and personnel.
• Maintain documentation as per college guidelines and SLAPCT policies and procedures.
• Experience with children and adults who have multiple needs is an asset
• Continuous quality improvement activities
• Completes reports after each community visit (i.e.# of community members seen, planning/clinical meetings, meetings with leadership).
• Travel via air and road is a requirement.
• Experience working in a First Nations community and ability to communicate in one of the First Nations dialects of the Sioux Lookout Zone would be an asset.
• The ability to perform the requirements of the position on a regular basis.