Clinical Specialist, Speech Language Pathology

BC Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, BC

What you’ll do

 

• Assesses and diagnoses communication disorders in children with, or suspected of having, cleft palate and/or other craniofacial conditions, including assessment of oral motor/ pre-speech skills as appropriate. Uses standardized and non-standardized assessment procedures including perceptual and instrumental measures (e.g., nasometry, pressure-flow analysis, nasoendoscopy and videofluoroscopy).
• Determines whether speech disorders are structural, phonological, compensatory or neuromuscular in nature; makes recommendations regarding appropriate management; (i.e., surgical intervention, speech prostheses, and/or speech therapy.). Consults with surgical team on appropriate surgical procedures.
• Recommends an appropriate remediation program in the form of direct therapy, consultation and training to parents, care-givers, and/or professionals, periodic follow-up where necessary, and/or referrals to other professionals as indicated.
• Shares assessment and treatment recommendations with parents and team members, and with community service providers and professionals in the community as appropriate. Provides consultative support to community therapists regarding appropriate intervention strategies for individual clients. Liaises with other agencies to ensure adequate follow-up of communication problems
• Contributes to the coordination of the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Program clinics: facilitates priorization of clinic consultations and referrals, and, recommended follow-up for children based on guidelines for best practice for assessment and treatment of cleft lip/palate and related condition in the correct sequence from birth to age 19.
• Acts as a clinical resource person to the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Program interdisciplinary team, and other health care professionals throughout the hospital, as well as community hospitals and community health care professionals and agencies throughout British Columbia, Canada, and internationally on the management of children with cleft lip and palate. Acts as a consultant to community agencies in developing programs and services to meet the needs of children with cleft lip and palate.
• Records patient information, assessment results and treatment recommendations in the Cleft Palate Database and provides written reports.

 

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• Graduation from an academic program in speech-language pathology approved by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
• Five (5) years recent, related clinical experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Masters level education and/or training specific to cleft lip and palate.
• Certification / demonstrated successful completion of advanced training or education specific to cleft lip and palate beyond entry level to practice.
• Current full registration as a Speech-Language Pathologist with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Children’s Hospital contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

 

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

 

Skills & Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of speech-language pathology diagnostic and therapeutic principals, procedures and approaches, and clinical best practices relevant to the population.
• Current knowledge of child development and child language development.
• Knowledge of developmental and acquired conditions impacting on and coexisting with communication and speech and language disorders.
• An understanding of the process of differential diagnosis of speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders.
• Broad knowledge of evidence based practice and research process and methodology.
• Ability to interpret nasopharyngoscopy results and to make recommendations for surgery related to speech, breathing and/or feeding in consultation with physicians on the cleft palate team
• Demonstrated counseling and listening skills to support families and their children who will face multiple surgeries and procedures and significant psychosocial adjustment to their physical appearance and speech quality
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

 

What we bring

 

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

 

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time

Wage: $43.88 - $54.82 per hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0830-1630
Requisition # 192855E

 

What we do

 

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

  

BCCH is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

 

PHSA plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

 

PHSA & BCCH are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

 

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:  

  

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca    

  

Please note the internal job posting has expired. Please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting. 

 

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.  

 

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.