ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Sidra Medicine is a state of the art academic medical center that will function to the level of the highest international standards.  Its clinical focus is on the specialty care of women and children.

Sidra’s Vision is: “Sidra Medicine will be a beacon of learning, discovery and exceptional care, ranked among the top medical centers in the world”.

Achieving this vision will encompass three essential activities:

World Class:     Patient and Family Centered Care      Health Education                Biomedical Discovery

Sidra works closely with Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and Hamad Medical Corporation across  all three activities to raise the standard of health and health care throughout the State of Qatar

DEPARTMENT/BRANCH PROFILE

Our family centered-friendly environment is a 399-bed state of the art facility serving Qatari, non-Qatari and international women and children and their families.  Our experienced staff operates within a model of care underpinned by international evidence based best practice and supported by world class technology.

Our inter-professional teams work collaboratively to secure wellness optimizing patient/family outcomes to contribute to Sidra’s reputation as a high reliable organization. Clinical research focused on education, quality improvements and a culture of patient and family safety will be used to inform and guide best practice standards.

The Allied Health Department is a diverse mix of professions and services working together in a family centered environment to provide patients with the comprehensive care they require.

The Speech Language Pathology Division will provide services to neonatal, pediatric and adolescent patients of all specialties. The vision of the department is to deliver outstanding care, rehabilitation and patient/family support through the provision of high quality clinicians and services working in an interdisciplinary environment that integrates evidence based practice, education, research, and innovation into its model of care.

JOB SUMMARY 

The Speech and Language Pathologist II is responsible for competently providing safe and effective speech and language therapy care to patients and their families.

The Speech and Language Pathologist II assesses speech and language therapy needs, plans, implements and evaluates therapy programs working autonomously with minimal supervision. The Speech Language Therapist II works in collaboration with other members of the health care team and strives to provide evidence-based care by integrating research with practice.  The Speech and Language Pathologist II promotes continuous improvement and helps to generate innovative ideas within speech and language therapy practice.

The Speech and Language Pathologist II maintains a commitment to continued professional development and creates, utilizes and/or disseminates new knowledge to patients and their families, the public and other professionals internal /external health professionals.  The Speech and Language Pathologist II is responsible for ensuring that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard.

The Speech and Language Pathologist II participates in the provision of specialized teaching and supervision of peers and junior staff on wide range of subjects within the clinical field in addition to specialized training across a wide range of subjects within their clinical field. 

POSITION DIMENSIONS

ROLE INTERACTS DIRECTLY WITH

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

Clinical:

• Makes autonomous decisions related to the plans of care for children.
• Provides total individualized patient care as assigned according to the core standards of patient care and established policies and evidence based practices.  
• Holds a caseload and provides a speech and language therapy service to children with a range of communication and / or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• Assumes delegated accountability for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating therapy needs as well as discharge planning for each patient, assessing for current and potential problems.
• Administers standardized and age-appropriate speech and language tests and uses non-standardized assessment procedures when indicated.
• Administers instrumental analysis, when appropriate.
• Interprets results and develops recommendations in collaboration with the inter-professional team, when necessary.
• Contributes to decreasing the length of stay/waiting time as per unit specific goal. Works in collaboration with Case Management to achieve goals.
• Documents all relevant information correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Identifies and alerts members of the medical team to changes in medical status of the patient.
• Identifies impairments and refers to other medical specialties when necessary.
• Liaises with the appropriate Speech Language Pathology services in the community and provides transfer/discharge information.
• Liaises with educational personnel about the effects of the patient’s difficulties and the impact on learning, communication and feeding, eating and drinking.
• Liaises with the appropriate speech language pathology services in the community and provides transfer/discharge information.
• Educates the patient/family and other members of the health care team regarding the speech therapy plan.
• Provides consultation to patients/families, staff, community agencies and satellite centers.
• Participates in community outreach activities e.g. school-based therapy, homecare.
• Identifies Speech Language Pathology research opportunities and participates in and/or develop and promote research.
• Contributes and maintains library of therapy resources and therapy equipment held within the department and ensures equipment is complete, tidy and adheres to the Sidra Medicine infection control policies and procedures.
• Reports equipment failures, safety and security issues, and/or reduction of supply inventory to Speech Language Pathology Supervisor or designee.
• Acts as an advocate by empowering patients and their families to make informed choices by providing them with information and support and directing to the relevant support services when appropriate.
• Liaises and works within an inter-professional practice model to ensure high quality, holistic, and safe family centered care.
• Participates in the development programs that seek to measure outcomes and quality, including audit and research studies, under guidance, support and direction of senior staff.
• Participates in patient education programs.
• Promotes patient satisfaction as a team member by demonstration of extraordinary service.
• Utilizes a professional practice framework and evidence based care and therapy approaches for maximizing effective service delivery.
• Continually identifies improvements within service while minimizing risks.  Creating care that is optimal for our patients and families. 
• Promotes a safe environment and safe patient care by embracing a safety culture and identifying areas of risk to Speech Language Pathology Supervisor. Complies with policies for personal and patient safety and for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.
• Contributes to the achievement of cost efficiency savings for the service.  Maintains an awareness of resource utilization, exercising care in the ordering and use of staff, equipment and materials.
• Takes an active role in service activities that contribute to excellence in outcomes, a positive patient experience and a healthy professional environment. Contributes to the achievement of clinical quality outcome indicators and patient satisfaction. Leads service based Performance Improvement activities and organizational committees as assigned. Leads special projects/assignments linked to clinical specialism, therapy strategic priorities and professional practice model.
• Participates in the continued development, implementation, and evaluation of Sidra Policy and Procedures to align with international best practices
• Promotes and shares knowledge via mentorship/preceptorship programs in line with relevant research and evidence based practice.
• Actively participates in the development programs that seek to measure outcomes and quality, including audit and research studies, under guidance, support and direction of senior staff.
• Actively participates in and designs patient education programs.
• Participates in new staff/student orientation aimed at developing competence and performance.  Assists in maintaining a suitable learning environment and acts as a mentor in the supervision and teaching of therapy students and new staff to develop their competencies.
• Demonstrates transcultural principles in Speech Language Pathology practice.
• Actively participates in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication and teamwork.
• Actively welcomes and provides support for new staff/students to the unit. Contributes to the retention of all staff to meet the service specific turnover rate goal.  Participates in retention activities.
• Upholds the organizational values at all times.
• Follows all Hospital related policies and procedures.
• Is able to cope with occasionally potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.

Communication:

• Is able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills.
• Is able to communicate information when there are maybe barriers to communication and understanding.
• Regularly reports to the Speech and Language Pathology Supervisor.
• Liaises with members of the inter-disciplinary teams with regard to patient care to ensure high quality, holistic, and safe family centered care.
• Liaises with managers, administrative and support staff as necessary.
• Attends and contributes to meetings and case conferences as appropriate.

Education:

• Is responsible for continued professional development.
• Maintains Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) licensure.

Professional:

• Is an active member of the Speech and Language Pathology Team; attending relevant meetings as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains own knowledge, clinical skills including fulfilling mandatory training requirements and maintains a professional profile.  Provides documented evidence of performance and maintenance of skills consistent with position.
• Maintains a professional demeanor at all times.  Acts as a role model for junior staff.
• Treats colleagues, patients and visitors with dignity and respect at all times.
• Participates in PDP meetings and supervision sessions
• Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times.
• Responsible for maintaining up to date mandatory Life Support Training requirements as directed by MoPH and Sidra (e.g. BLS, AED etc).
• Adheres to Sidra’s standards as they appear in the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies
• Adheres to and promotes Sidra’s Values

In view of the evolving needs and opportunities within Sidra, this position may be required to perform other duties as assigned and reporting relationships may vary.

WORK ENVIRONMENT THE ROLE OPERATES IN

• Clinical roles are performed in an acute care and outpatient hospital setting.
• Physical effort required may include walking more than is typical due to the distances between hospital units.
• Physical risks normally associated with an acute care clinical environment.
• Close contact with patients and family is routine.
• Handling and using cleaning products.

ORGANIZATION VALUES

Trust: Being competent; acting consistently, reliably and predictably; acting with honesty and integrity; respecting patient, employee and commercial confidentiality; delivering on commitments

Care: Acting with empathy, kindness and compassion; being humble; listening and responding; acting with cultural sensitivity; Caring for patients and staff

Teamwork: Sharing information and knowledge and learning from demonstrated expertise; being respectful, and thereby earning respect of others; acting with professionalism; leading and following; collaborating and being accessible

Transparency: Frequent and honest communication; open access to information for decision making; willingly acknowledge shortcomings; speaking up about concerns; publishing performance indicators

Innovation: Freedom to innovate; welcoming ideas and encouraging creativity; supporting talent; creating confidence; celebrating successes

Efficiency: Providing measurable value; using data to drive decision making; having and achieving clear goals; building processes that work; continuously improving outcomes in patient and family care