Speech Language Pathologist Iii- Grand Junction Regional Center

Salary: $37.81 - $52.93 Hourly
Location :Grand Junction, CO
Job Type: Part Time
Job Number: IJB 00468 11/14/23
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OAADS - Grand Junction Regional Center
Opening Date: 11/14/2023
Closing Date: 12/3/2023 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: GJRC572 Crete Circle Grand Junction CO 81505
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Information
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
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About Grand Junction Regional Center Facility:
This work unit exists to support the delivery of active treatment, habilitation, rehabilitation and instruction to
individuals with intellectual disabilities residing in the Grand Junction Regional Center (GJRC) intermediate
care facilities in compliance with State and Federal regulations. This work unit provides therapeutic, behavioral, social, and vocational training services for individuals with intellectual disabilities for the purpose of assisting to attain the highest level of independence.
Description of Job
About the Position:
The position exists to assess levels of communicative and swallow function, develop programs, coordinate, train and monitor Speech Therapy and Audiometric services at the Grand Junction Regional Center, as well as provides direct Speech Therapy services and supports for the GJRC residents. These services include the provision of feeding programs and guidelines to maintain the health and safety of individuals with oral motor dysfunction that put them at risk for choking, aspirations and subsequent pneumonias. Speech Language Pathologists also address needs in the area of receptive and expressive language skills, as well as augmentative communication and hearing screenings. Across all areas of treatment, the position plays an essential role in supporting staff through education and training. The position collaborates with other support staff to provide optimal care to the residents of the Regional Center and is responsible for overseeing ethical standards and practices, managing a caseload and managing a budgets. This position operates independently in all aspects of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology services throughout the agency and conducts, analyzes and interprets test results and situations in order to prescribe individualized programs for individuals. Due to the population's diagnoses, IQ and chronological age standardized assessments and treatment programs are tailored to each individual. Duties in this position include:
Team Process:
This position participates in and provides input to the Interdisciplinary Team meetings, Department meetings and the resident's annual Individual Planning meetings (IP's). Makes recommendations to the ID team for goals, objectives and programs in area of speech therapy, dysphagia and hearing needs.
• acts as a resource for Speech Therapy Department with the agency Interdisciplinary team members in a manner that supports the integrity and quality of therapy and support services for individuals served at the agency in accordance with the American Speech Language and Hearing Association Standards of Practice
• facilitates Food Club and Food Corner meetings to ensure good communication and coordination of services. Relay pertinent information to appropriate parties
Speech, Language, and Swallowing Assessment / Consultation:

• selects appropriate assessment tools from standardized and non-standardized tests for the Intellectually Disabled population to determine, modifies assessments as needed in order to determine appropriate therapeutic intervention. Specifically, chooses from a variety of sources to complete appropriate assessments that best identify the needs of the individual. Assessments include oral motor/swallowing assessments to identify swallowing difficulties as well as to determine diet texture, adaptive eating equipment and specific self or assisted feeding techniques. Assessment also include standardized testing in receptive/expressive language as well as auditory processing and nonverbal communication. Criterion based testing is used to evaluate nonverbal communication and potential for augmentative communication. Measures possible decline in cognition reflected in adaptive and maladaptive behavior changes.
  • responsible for researching assessments that are most current and relevant to this population. Assessments also include interview of familiar caregivers/family members and observation to ensure thorough evaluations of communicative and swallow function.
  • interprets test results/observations to determine individual's needs and programs. Assist with review and evaluation of GERs on dysphagia, recommend changes in food consistencies, feeding techniques and equipment or training to improve outcome for safety and health

Program Development, Implementation and Monitoring for Oral Motor Needs:

• tailors primary Speech and Language Pathology theories and principles to develop different approaches and plans to meet the unique needs of the intellectually disabled individuals served at the Regional Center
• develops service programs or objectives to meet identified needs addressing health and safety issues related to swallowing difficulties and esophageal problems that place individuals at risk for choking,aspiraton or aspiration pneumonia. These individualized feeding guidelines include data collection that tracks pertinent information
• provide intensive training and role modeling to day program and residential direct care staff on and/or feeding programs. Determines method of nutritional intake including diet texture and thickness of liquids as well as quantity and rate of intake
• collaborates with Health Services to determine oral versus NPO status for nutritional needs Collaborates with Occupational Therapy and Dietary departments in the management of oral motor swallowing function. Existing guidelines for feeding and oral motor stimulation are often modified in emergency situations such as a sudden decline in medical status or medication related side effects. These changes often necessitate different and specialized approaches to maintain safety of the resident.
• collaborates with community Speech Language Pathologists in hospitals, and outpatient clinics for modified barium swallow studies

Program Development, Implementation and Monitoring for Communication Needs:

• develops individualized training objectives tailored to meet the needs that comply with the unique behavioral and/or physical challenges specific to the individual. The services and objectives address speech, language, and hearing deficits for residents who have cognitive and physical impairments that affect their receptive and expressive speech and language skills.
• assess residents for appropriate augmentative communications systems.
• develop augmentative communication programs such as manual sign language, informal gestures that are meaningful to the individual, low tech picture communication systems, and speech generated communication devices. Implement programs to increase the resident's independence in using a communication device or hearing aids.
• provide training to caregivers specific to their role as communication partners who consistently support and use communication systems with the individuals in their care. Provide training to caregivers to accommodate the needs of individuals with auditory processing difficulties
• services direct care staff on program implementation that includes creative techniques to improve individual participation
• monitor and supervise the implementation of Speech Therapy services and supports, which includes communications and social skills. Provide Speech therapeutic expertise to program areas in conjunction with team IDT to assure objective implementation as per individual plan
• delivers direct and indirect speech therapy services when specialized treatment is required. Train residential and program staff on specific programs

Documentation:

• develop specific objectives and programs, design appropriate data sheets, collect and analyze data and summarize information
• documents progress of all programs and objectives in the Resident Record. Determine needed revisions to flat-linted programs to assure further individual progress. This often necessitates developing creative and unique strategies to increase interest and participation in the program as well as unique datasheets. Directly implements selected programs and active treatment plans.
• provides ongoing consultation and/or supervision for staff who follow the written programs to ensure the identified habilitation needs and intent of the programs are met

Assist with Agency Training and Monitoring:

• trains and monitors the speech therapy programs to Day Program and Residential direct care staff and ensures that the programs are integrated in the activity schedules of the Day Program and Residential areas. Provide training for new employee orientation. Teaches assigned core skills training for speech therapy that includes swallowing disorders (Dysphagia) and communication skills
  • provides program specific inservices to staff as well as therapy based inservicing to improve client care and individual development potential in the area of expertise that is under the umbrella of Speech and Language Pathology

Other Duties as Assigned:

• these include but are not limited to participation in peer review and clinic reviews as assigned
• participates in committees as assigned to represent and advocate for the speech therapy department, manage budget and create and maintain positive working relationships with community providers for audiometric evaluations, community-based speech therapy and with SLPs that perform modified barium swallows
• completing management monitoring per Director's scheduling and assist with staff coverage

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
Current, valid licensure with Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to practice Speech and Language Therapy
~AND~
TWO (2) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.
Substitutions:
None
Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges
• Must take successfully pass a Tuberculosis (TB) test.
• Valid and current Colorado Driver's License
• Travel - Drive state car to various group homes, programming, admin & in community
• Other - Requires Influenza and COVID Vaccines
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
  Appeal Rights:
  If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
  An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.
  For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information
How to Apply
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contact jazzma.gamboa@state.co.us
About Us:
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
  
• Medical and dental health plans
  
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
  
• Paid life insurance
  
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
  
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
  
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
  
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
  
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
  
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Pub...