Please note: This position is a leadership position which includes 0.2FTE clinical role in ATT. 

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Professional Practice Leader, Speech Language Pathology is responsible for the delivery of professional, clinical and academic services and the discipline related day to day operations including staffing, orientation and supervision, and space and equipment management within Speech Language Pathology consistent with the mission, vision, values and strategic directions of BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), Sunny Hill Centre for Children (SHHC) and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre (BCW) as agencies of the Provincial Health Services Authority. The Professional Practice Leader directly provides practice leadership, participates in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of services, and provides input into human resource and financial resource management. Other responsibilities include supporting program leaders in decision-making processes surrounding care delivery, clinical competencies, clinical practice, and standards of care; and the evaluation of discipline specific learning and staff development for all discipline staff, field instructors and students.    This cross-site position is charged with setting the direction for Speech Language Pathology, and furthering the discipline’s role and scope both within the organization, and provincially.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Ensures professional standards, registration requirements, practice guidelines, professional credentials and the code of ethics for Speech Language Pathology staff are understood, monitored and maintained.

2. In consultation with Speech Language Pathology staff, and in collaboration with Program leaders, participates in the planning and coordination of service delivery (both core and program), including the development of practice guidelines, goals, objectives and interprofessional clinical pathways using evidence based practice. Ensures the professional practice framework, and policies and procedures, are in place to meet related accreditation standards and standards of care, and where applicable, the Health Professions Act.

3. Together with various education resources, develops processes for defining and implementing advanced practice skills for Speech Language Pathology and advocates for the utilization of their full scope of practice.

4. In conjunction with the Director of Professional Services, Director of Professional Practice Operations and the Program leaders, facilitates and participates in the development of the quality improvement and risk management programs through upgrading and maintaining policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.

5. In conjunction with the Director of Professional Services, the Director of Professional Practice Operations and Program leaders, is responsible for the planning, development and facilitation of the profession-specific component of the orientation of new and novice staff.

6. Ensures that Speech Language Pathology day-to-day operations are carried out including clinical assignments of staff and intake/screening for appropriate referrals. Facilitates ongoing monitoring, calibration and upgrade of equipment and supplies as necessary.

7. Represents or facilitates the representation of Speech Language Pathology regionally, provincially and nationally. Advises the organization in regards to discipline trends/issues impacting programs and/or organizational directions and goals. Ensures Speech Language Pathology participation in advisory groups, committees, planning groups, both internally and externally, to provide input and/or receive information and participate in decision-making.

8. Works with internal and external educators to develop the overall education plan for the discipline, identify specific learning needs (both discipline specific and interprofessional), and develop, implement and evaluate educational strategies for the discipline. Together with Program leaders, ensures that mechanisms are in place to evaluate education funding and education leave request suitability.

9. Establishes and maintains relationships with relevant educational institutions and coordinates clinical teaching and student and/or intern practicum experience, including student placements, learning activities, orientation, and evaluation. Provides input to the university regarding curriculum and program evaluation.

10. Provides consultative services to medical and other professional groups, or identifies a resource to do so, on Speech Language Pathology related issues. Acts as a clinical resource contact person to Speech Language Pathologists, the agencies, the academic and university environment, other health care facilities and community services.

11. Develops and fosters effective professional relationships with relevant academic institutions, professional associations, and licensing bodies and other external agencies. Keeps informed of new professional developments and regulations.

12. In conjunction with the Professional Services Research/Education Coordinator, ensures the discipline’s participation in interprofessional research and education activities, by contributing to the development of an overall research plan for Speech Language Pathology, and acting as a liaison between the research coordination resource and the discipline.

13. Together with the Professional Services Research/Education Coordinator , provides input to the planning, development and evaluation of discipline specific research proposals, projects and surveys and prioritizes according to clinical and resource availability. Ensures that identified research opportunities are evaluated and ensures that research findings are integrated into practice by incorporating information into policies, procedures, educational programs, and materials, and by using a variety of methods to communicate and teach current research findings on treatment methodologies and outcomes.

14. In conjunction with the Director of Professional Services and the Director of Professional Practice Operations, provides input and coordination into the development and maintenance of core consultation and centralized services.

15. Ensures that the human resources plan for Speech Language Pathology is developed, maintained and evaluated including role expectations, specialized credentials, and competencies to support effective and efficient service delivery. Works in conjunction with Program leaders and others to identify staff requirements, develop position descriptions and performs first stage screening to determine and evaluate professional competencies and qualifications.

16. Recruits Speech Language Pathologists into the organization and where possible, maintains adequate casual pool through methods such as utilizing professional networks, linking with educational institutions, recommending journals for job postings, attending conferences and job fairs.

17. Directly or in conjunction with designated leaders, reviews workload assignments, provides direction to the organization about adjusting master schedules according to workload to ensure that staff levels meet patient care requirements.

18. Ensures that clinical supervision to staff is provided as required and to meet regulatory and collective agreement requirements and acts a mentor, along with others, to Speech Language Pathology staff. Ensures that a process and mechanisms are in place for ongoing clinical and peer consultation (i.e. practice councils, mentors, etc).

19. Participates in the resolution of interdisciplinary care/clinical issues across the programs and within specific programs/units.

20. Identifies profession specific performance evaluation standards and processes.  In consultation with Program leaders provides input to professional component of staff performance appraisal and develops strategies to address and remediate performance issues.

21. Performs clinical practice activities in conformance with established standards by performing duties such as assessing needs, planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting services to an individual client or group of clients and exchanging information with physicians, nursing staff, other health care professionals and outside agencies as required to ensure optimum patient care.

22. Contributes to annual operating and capital budget proposals including identifying and making recommendations on staff allocations, expenditures on evaluated products/equipment, supplies and tests, space allocation, and on related education and research needs and initiatives.  

23. Participates in the development, modification, implementation and monitoring of the workload measurement system to meet internal and external reporting requirements and to assist with resource allocation and clinical prioritization.  Maintains a variety of other records as required.  

24. Acts as a custodian for Speech Language Pathology Special Purpose/ Designated Funds.

25. Monitors expenditures and variances by methods such as reviewing budgets and actual expenditures, utilizing the BI tool. Works with the individual Programs to respond to variances.

26. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from a recognized university.
• Current full registration as a Speech Language Pathologist of the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
• Six (6) years of recent, related experience including two (2) years senior supervisory/leadership experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and pediatric experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of Speech Language Pathology theory and practice.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the standards of practice and regulations for Speech Language Pathology as established by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
• Comprehensive knowledge of organization policies, procedures, and standards of care.
• Working knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Working knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, supervision, work direction and training.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, and to deal effectively with co-workers, physicians, other health care professionals, clients and their families, and external agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to function as an effective leader, mentor, coach and facilitator.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve.
• Demonstrated ability to develop project plans and implement new projects.
• Demonstrated skill and ability to operate related equipment and techniques appropriate to clinical areas.
• Demonstrated ability to develop educational programs and materials.
• Demonstrated ability to goal-set and develop a strategic plan and shared vision for the discipline.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized patient care information system.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.