Speech - Language Pathologist

Salary: $70,886.40 - $81,515.20 Annually
Location : Balsam Lake, WI
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202300778
Department: Community Services Division
Opening Date: 03/11/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Consider joining a dynamic team dedicated to serving our community. Polk County Community Services Division's vision is "A Safe and Healthy Community for All". We achieve this through Integrity, Accountability, Equity, Compassion, Empowerment, Prevention, Excellence, and Collaboration and Partnerships. Our team supports work-life harmony through flexible scheduling, remote work and excellent pay and benefits.
Summary: Under the direction of the Public Health Director and Manager, a licensed speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) will provide quality early intervention services through educating and coaching families, caregivers, and colleagues to support the development of children primarily from birth up to the age of three within their daily routines and activities. Early interventionists enhance families' capacities to support their children by actively participating in relationship-based interventions using the evidence-based primary coaching model to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. The interventionist will be a member of a multidisciplinary early intervention team supporting infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families in the child's natural environment.
Duties/Responsibilities
These duties represent the typical duties and responsibilities assigned to this position but may not be inclusive of all tasks performed.

• Provides early intervention services with child and caretaker to help meet Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) outcomes in natural environments utilizing Primary Coach Approach early intervention evidence-based practice.
• Participates in multi-discipline formal evaluation of developmental skills to determine program eligibility.
• Assists in the completion of evaluation reports.
• Participates in team development, review, and evaluation of Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP).
• Serves as primary early intervention coach for families and their children with developmental delays.
• Provides advanced coaching and guidance to the Birth to 3 team and families within the speech language pathology scope of practice.
• Completes ongoing assessment of developmental progress.
• Completes Plan of Care reports and submits to primary care physician for approval.
• Consults and coordinates with Birth to Three team members and other community partners as needed to provide the best possible early intervention services.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural, linguistic, social, economic, educational, individual, and role differences among families served.
• Works as a collaborative, productive, and positive team member in promoting early intervention services within a strong teaming environment.
• Completes necessary documentation and paperwork timely to meet the federal, state, and local Birth to Three standards for documentation and insurance revenue purposes.
• Assists in the coordination of services and makes appropriate referrals as needed.
• Assists the Director and Service Coordinator in program management tasks, such as billing trouble-shooting, quality assurance/chart review, grant-writing, program reporting, and administrative improvements.
• Assist with child find, community awareness, parent/family networking activities, and educational activities for families in the community.
• Instructs family members in the proper and safe usage of adaptive equipment and assistive technology.
• Assist with state file reviews and program self-assessment process.
• Participates in regular team meetings and statewide meetings and training opportunities.
• Knowledge of and adherence to federal, state and county statutes, policies and procedure applicable to Speech Therapy.
• Knowledge of and adherence to the ethics and practice standards applicable to Speech Therapy.
• Fulfills the department's mission and purpose.

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties as assigned and unit/departmental back-up and support.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Qualifications
Education/Experience:

• Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology Required
• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence Required
• Licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the State of Wisconsin required
• One to five years of experience in a community or school program for young children with developmental disabilities preferred.
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Competency Requirements:

• Integrity/Honesty - Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Superior Customer Service and Community Relations - Anticipates and strives to meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders (employees, contracted staff, residents, families, and other internal and external clientele). Delivers high-quality services; is committed to continuous improvement. Interacts with members of the public and key stakeholders in a manner to elicit positive response and participation. Presents information and /or represents the facility's interest.
• Communications - Delivers clear, effective communication and takes responsibility that others understand; uses correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; produces both verbal and written information that is appropriate for the intended audience
• Interpersonal Relations - Develops and maintains effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and in different situations; show understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness; maintains a professional and courteous attitude with staff, clients, and the community with special regard to Department confidentiality policies.
• Accountability - Assumes responsibility for successfully accomplishing work objectives and delivering results; setting high standards of performance for self and others
• Judgment and Decision Making - Accurately assesses situations, seeks new information if necessary, and applies all available information to reach sound conclusions/formulate effective response. Requires little guidance for responding to a wide range of complex situations with far-reaching and/or enduring consequences
• Data Gathering and Analysis - Seeks or collects and synthesizes information from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective, unbiased manner to reach a conclusion, goal or judgment
• Organizational Communications - Demonstrates the county and agency's mission and goals through collaboration with key stakeholders and community input and involvement.
• Partnering/Networking -- Demonstrates ability to engage and maintain key stakeholders and the public in necessary partnerships to potentiate reach of the agency as well as improve service delivery

EARLY INTERVENTION COMPETENCIES:

• Broad knowledge of general development in infants and toddlers, including children with and without developmental delays, with expertise in all areas of development.
• Knowledge of intervention in natural environments.
• An understanding of the importance of providing services for young children with disabilities and their families.
• Empathy for others and the ability to respect and maintain professional/personal boundaries.
• Experience working within trans-disciplinary teams; experience with young children and families; and experience in home visiting preferred.
• The ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• The ability to work with families in their home environment with creativity and innovation.
• The ability to express differing opinions to others regardless of their position or status maturely and professionally.
• Evaluation, assessment, and report writing skills
• Physical ability to work in the natural environment of the child and care providers.
• Encourages and supports individualized learning in familiar, positive, safe home and community environments.
• Promotes community partnerships using a family-centered approach that supports children, youth, and families.
• Acknowledges value and respects the diversity of all individuals.
• Emphasizes recommended practice, supported by current research and evaluation.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMPETENCIES:
Employees of the Polk County Health Department are expected to have a working knowledge of the Council of Linkages General Public Health Domains. The degree of knowledge will be based on the position and job responsibilities. Annual self-assessment of competency levels is required of PCHD employees.
Additional Information
Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Work Environment: Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject a worker to an increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject workers to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals, and animals. In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical, or hostile behaviors and/or communication. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing duties of this job; may experience exposure to substandard housing conditions, pets, second-hand smoke, etc. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally noisy due to the presence of small children.
Personal Time Off (PTO):
Extended Leave
Accrual at the rate of five (5) days annually (cap 20 days)
Holidays
Nine (9) paid holidays per year
(Employees working on holidays, paid over-time rate - 1 ½ times regular rate of pay)
Short-term Disability
66 2/3% weekly wages from days 30-89, at cost to employee
Term Life Insurance
One (1) times annual salary at no cost to employee
Supplemental Life available for employee, spouse, & children
Retirement - WRS
2024 rates for employees: 6.9%
Employer portion: 6.9%
Deferred Compensation
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation - three (3) options for additional retirement savings (pre-tax)
Health Insurance
Begins on the 1st of the month following date of hire
Health Partners - three (3) plan options to choose from
Other Insurances
Dental, Vision, and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Account
Administered through WEX
(pre-tax dollars for medical expenses and daycare costs)
Employee Assistance Program
Health Partners confidential counseling services
Polk County values the health and well-being of our employees, offering tools and support for a healthy lifestyle. Employees selecting to participate in various programs and activities throughout the year may qualify for a monthly health insurance premium reduction. Additionally, our employees have an opportunity to earn an incentive during the year to qualify for a $55/month reduction in the following year's Polk County sponsored Health Insurance.
01
What is your highest level of education completed:

• None
• High School or GED
• Some College
• Associate
• Bachelor
• Bachelor with additional course work
• Master
• Masters with additional course work
• Doctorate
• Doctorate with additional course work

02
Briefly describe your field of study.
03
Indicate any professional certification(s) that you currently possess:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapy
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Other
• None

Required Question