The Speech Therapist directs, supervises, evaluates and provides skilled speech therapy services on an intermittent basis to clients in their homes. These services are performed in accordance with the physician's order.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

· Assists in the admission of the client to the Agency by:

o Initial and ongoing assessments to determine level of functioning, including OASIS assessments at appropriate time points

o Obtaining a medical history, particularly as it relates to the present condition.

o Interpreting speech therapy and other services of the Agency to clients and families as a part of planning for care.

o Assuring appropriateness of physician's orders and discussing necessary changes.

· Assists in development and implementation of the interdisciplinary client care plan as it pertains to speech therapy.

· Provides skilled speech pathology services as outlined below and after consultation with the physician,

o evaluating the client's level of functioning and hearing.

o developing the plan of treatment in consultation with the physician; o providing speech therapy service in accordance with the plan of treatment;

o preparing clinical and progress notes;

· Makes arrangements for out-patient services which cannot be given in the home.

· Participates in the development of periodic revision of the physician's plan of treatment keeping him/her informed of the patient's status, and obtaining additional orders if necessary.

· Communicates with other team members and, when appropriate, instructs them in speech pathology techniques that they may use while working with the client.

· Supervises the Home Health Aide every two weeks when Speech Therapy is the only professional discipline involved in the client's care.

· Participates with staff, client, and physician in discharge activities and completes the Speech Therapy discharge summary within the designated framework of the Agency policies

QUALIFICATIONS:

(EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE)

· Master's degree or equivalent from accredited program; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Must have at least 2 years’ Speech Therapy experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Registered Speech Therapist in the State of Florida and CPR certification