Senior / Speech Therapist

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific

Clinical Competencies and Duties

In Speech Therapy services, the Speech Therapist must have the general clinical competences and had attained the specific area of competency for their specialty area. Depending on current rotation, the Speech Therapist must also develop specific competencies in the management of patients in one of these disciplines:

1. Neurology/ Neurosurgery
2. Geriatrics
3. Intensive Care Units
4. Ear, Nose, and Throat
5. Paediatrics
6. Others

He/she must be independent in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients and know when to seek guidance proactively when required.

Specific Knowledge in different disciplines

1. Neurological/ Neurosurgical Speech Therapist
2. Geriatric Speech Therapist
3. Intensive Care Speech Therapist
4. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Speech Therapist
5. Tracheostomy Speech Therapist
6. Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFS)
7. Fiberoptic/ Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
8. Paediatrics Speech and Language Therapist
9. Adult Speech and Language Therapist

Administrative Competencies and Duties

In the course of provision of Speech Therapy services, staff must:

1. Develop skills and competency in self-management and compliance to medico-legal and governance guidelines.
2. Be responsible for the caseload allocated and provide coverage as necessary.
3. Maintain accurate, up-to-date medical reports in continuity of care.
4. Be familiar with and adhere to basic tenets of JCI.
5. Ensure proper charging procedures.
6. Have basic IT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
7. Be able to use hospital electronic medical records applications.
8. Maintain statistics on workload as needed by the Rehabilitation department and Hospital.
9. Coordinate processes and flow within teams, which include understanding each area’s operations

Demonstration of Teamwork and Professionalism

Speech Therapists are members of a multi-disciplinary team. Staff must:

1. Demonstrate esprit de corps and professionalism to ensure that the desired outcomes are attained.
2. Engage actively in patient and care-giver education.
3. Proactive cross-coverage of colleagues in team to even out workload (e.g. if own caseload cleared ahead of time).
4. Provide after hours and on-call therapist services as required.
5. Assist with care and maintenance of equipment, materials and resources in the Department/ Hospital.
6. Attend department meetings, ward rounds and other professional meetings as required.
7. Liaise with and maintain good working relations with other healthcare professionals within the hospital and with external organizations
8. Demonstrate/portray professional behaviour including respect for patient privacy, personal hygiene and to be a role model to subordinates.
9. Be involved in department and hospital activities (e.g. Fitness Challenge, Community Day, etc.) as and when required

General

Continuous Education

Provide clinical education for undergraduate podiatry students on attachment programs,

1. Take ownership of personal continuous professional development of skills and knowledge in Speech Therapy, which includes independent reading and attending relevant courses and talks.
2. Contribute to continuous professional development of skills and knowledge in other colleagues, which includes provision of in-services, and participation in peer reviews/ audits.
3. Assist with on the job training of therapy assistants (TAs).
4. Achieve at least 100 hrs of training per year as assigned by Training Centre.

Supervisory Role

1. Assist with supervision of TA.
2. Assist with appraisal of TA.
3. Assist to supervise personnel, other than Speech Therapy students, attached to the department as and when required.

Quality Improvement

1. Adhere to patient quality service.
2. Contribute actively to department’s or other service quality improvements projects and initiatives.
3. Report to Senior Speech Therapist/ Manager, seek advice and provide feedback on service delivery and improvement.

Research Contribution

1. Collect research data as required and assigned by supervisor/ manager.

Others

1. Perform other duties assigned by Supervisor/ Manager.
2. Occasional contribution to team/ departmental projects outside of office hours as determined by reporting officer.
3. Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Hospital and Department.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education / Training / Experience

1. Recognized Degree in Speech Therapy.
2. Graduate with 1-3 years of experience with competencies in the relevant clinical disciplines, required by AHPL.

Professional License

1. Registered with Allied Health Professional Council (AHPC).
2. Member of the Speech-Language & Hearing Association of Singapore (SHAS) or equivalent (highly recommended).