SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Assists students with special communicative needs to use the maximum communicative potential based on age and cognition. Areas of speech-language involvement include deficits or abnormalities in articulation, language, voice, and fluency. Employee coordinates services with the student’s academic staff and family. The therapist is responsible for documentation for Medicaid billing for all eligible students.

The employee reports to the principal/s at their school/s, if school-based, and to the Exceptional Children’s Preschool Handicapped Lead Teacher if center-based. Both report to the Program Administrator of Exceptional Children and the Executive Director of Exceptional Children.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Planning and Oversight

Organizes the school program, cooperates with others to accomplish its goals, coordinates program services with other student services, and maintains records by established rules, regulations, and ethical standards.

Maintains Medicaid billing profiles and therapy notes on all Medicaid-eligible students using the designated billing service for the district.

Screening, Testing, Diagnosing, and Advising

Conducts screening and testing, obtains diagnostic information, analyzes information, and recommends programs and services.

The speech-language specialist can supervise speech-language assistants and clinical fellows working on ASHA certification.

Developing Individual Education Programs

Develops individual education plans for each speech-language-eligible child in collaboration with the classroom teacher, parent, LEA representative, and other pertinent professionals.

Managing and Conducting Therapy

Plans therapy and uses appropriate diagnostic tools and therapy techniques to support the curriculum.

The employee manages time, facilities, and resources to facilitate the delivery of services.

The employee promotes effective interpersonal relations and engages in continuing professional growth.

Liaison 

Provides consultation, seeks the assistance of others, uses related research, and makes recommendations and referrals for the implementation of services.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Must have a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Preferred to have a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Must have a G License from the NC Department of Public Instruction. May have a license from the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements:

Must be physically able to operate various equipment and tools, including computer software, hardware, cables, etc.

Must exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, up to 5 pounds frequently, and a negligible amount of energy constantly to move objects.

Physical demand requirements are more than those for Sedentary Work.

Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

However, if arm and leg controls require exertion of forces more significant than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Data Conception:

Requires the ability to compare and judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (similar to or divergent from apparent standards) of data, people, or things.

Interpersonal Communication:

Requires the ability to speak and signal people to convey or exchange information.

Includes giving and receiving instructions, assignments, and directions from superiors.

Language Ability:

Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, technical manuals, newsletters, trade journals, etc.

Requires the ability to prepare reports, forms, training materials, documentation, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all punctuation, grammar, diction, and style rules.

It requires speaking to people with poise, voice control, and confidence.

Intelligence:

Requires the ability to apply logical or scientific thinking principles to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret various technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.

Must communicate effectively and efficiently in various technical or professional languages, including computer terminology.

Numerical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract; multiply and divide; use percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra and geometry.

Form/Spatial Aptitude:

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape.

Motor Coordination:

Requires the ability to rapidly and accurately coordinate hands and eyes using computer equipment.

Manual Dexterity:

Requires the ability to handle various items, such as computer equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination:

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of paint.

Interpersonal Temperament:

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under pressure.

Physical Communication:

Requires the ability to talk and to hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas using spoken words. Hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds by ears).

Must be able to communicate via the telephone.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of speech pathology theory, principles, and methods and their proper application in the educational environment.

Considerable knowledge of appropriate evaluating tools.

Considerable knowledge of the equipment and assistive technology available to use in therapy.

Considerable knowledge of current literature, trends, and developments in speech pathology.

General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration. Skill in directly providing a wide range of treatment activities.

Ability to select and administer appropriate assessment and treatment methods. 

Ability to plan, coordinate and conduct on-the-job training and continuing education for various individuals.

Ability to screen, evaluate and provide required speech pathology services. Ability to develop and implement individualized programs.

Ability to accurately document sessions.

Ability to maintain an adequate inventory of supplies.

Ability to maintain accurate records and develop simple reports from those records.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work employees perform within this classification. It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees for this job.