Job percentage: 100% (35 hours per week)
Nature of the work
The occupation of a Speech Therapist includes, in particular, the responsibility for carrying out prevention, screening, identification and evaluation of speech, language and hearing difficulties. The therapist is responsible for developing and implementing appropriate strategies and intervention plans with the aim to develop the students’ communication and language skills thereby supporting their continued educational progress.
Some characteristic duties
- The speech therapist studies the needs of students experiencing communication disorders. Analyzes and interprets the information collected in order to assess hearing, language, voice and speech problems and to determine a treatment plan adapted to the student's abilities, while taking into account his or her personal and environmental needs.
- Prepares a speech therapy treatment and intervention plan adapted to the student’s abilities, while taking into account his or her personal and environmental needs.
- Participates in developing and implementing a speech therapy service that meets the academic and administrative requirements of both the educational institutions and the school board.
- Participates in the planning, delivery or supervision of activities designed to prevent the onset of communication problems or to detect communication disorders and to complement the activities of others involved in intervention efforts.
- Contributes to the detection and identification of students experiencing difficulties, using an approach focusing on prevention and intervention; works with a multidisciplinary team to draw up and review a student’s individualized education plan by including, in the plan, the treatment and intervention plan in speech therapy, if necessary; participates in defining intervention objectives and means; works with other team members to harmonize and coordinate interventions and to assess the achievement of objectives.
- Works with classes or groups of students exhibiting common difficulties or specific problems so as to facilitate their learning and social integration.
- Provides advice and support to the teacher and explains the nature of the student’s communication difficulties so that they may adapt their teaching and the instructional materials used; informs the teacher of the effect of the difficulties on the student’s or group’s learning and social adaptation; ensures the development and adaptation of existing learning materials; participates in choosing oral communication aids.
- Provides support and the necessary tools to family members and to other school resources as well as pertinent advice so as to enable the latter to develop attitudes and skills fostering the development of the student’s communication skills. Plans, organizes and conducts training, information and awareness-building activities related to communication difficulties.
- Establishes and maintains collaboration and relationships with partner organizations; contacts those involved in intervention efforts to obtain or provide advice and information; may refer the student or their parents to resources appropriate for the situation and needs.
- Advises management staff, prepares expertise, evaluation, information and progress reports and makes appropriate recommendations to support decision making.
- Prepares and updates files according to the standards related to the practice of the profession and the rules defined by the school board; he or she prepares progress notes or evaluation, end-of-process and follow-up reports on his or her interventions.
Qualifications required
- Be a member of the Ordre des orthophonistes du Québec.
- An excellent knowledge of oral and written English and a good knowledge of oral and written French
- Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues, parents and supervisor
- Ability to establish relationships which demonstrate courtesy, respect and integrity
