Speech and Language Pathologist II

Role Overview

Speech and Language Pathologist II at Sidra Medicine, a pediatric-focused role located in Qatar delivering speech and language therapy care to children and their families.

Company Overview

Sidra Medicine is a high-tech specialist healthcare facility representing the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. The organization provides comprehensive specialist healthcare services for children and young people, and exceptional maternity, gynecology, and reproductive medical services for women. Sidra is home to world-class patient care, scientific expertise, and educational resources.

Role Purpose

The Speech and Language Pathologist II provides safe and effective speech and language therapy care to pediatric patients with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties. The role operates autonomously with minimal supervision, delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care while promoting continuous improvement, innovation, and professional development across the speech and language therapy practice.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Assessment and Treatment

• Assess speech, language, and swallowing therapy needs for children with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• Hold and manage a caseload providing speech and language therapy services.
• Administer standardized and age-appropriate speech and language tests.
• Use non-standardized assessment procedures when indicated.
• Administer instrumental analysis when appropriate.
• Interpret results and develop recommendations in collaboration with the inter-professional team.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate individualized therapy programs working autonomously.
• Make autonomous decisions related to plans of care for children.
• Assess for current and potential problems and develop discharge planning for each patient.
• Provide total individualized patient care according to core standards and evidence-based practices.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Coordination

• Work in collaboration with other members of the health care team to provide safe, family-centered care.
• Liaise with the inter-professional team to ensure high quality, holistic, and safe family-centered care.
• Interpret results and develop recommendations in collaboration with the inter-professional team when necessary.
• Identify impairments and refer to other medical specialties when necessary.
• Identify and alert members of the medical team to changes in the patient's medical status.
• Work in collaboration with Case Management to decrease length of stay and waiting time per unit-specific goals.
• Liaise with appropriate speech language pathology services in the community and provide transfer/discharge information.
• Liaise with educational personnel about the effects of the patient's difficulties and the impact on learning, communication, and feeding, eating, and drinking.
• Liaise with managers, administrative, and support staff as necessary.
• Attend and contribute to meetings and case conferences as appropriate.

Documentation and Reporting

• Document all relevant information correctly, appropriately, and in a timely manner.
• Report equipment failures, safety and security issues, and/or reduction of supply inventory to the Speech Language Pathology Supervisor or designee.
• Regularly report to the Speech and Language Pathology Supervisor.

Education and Patient/Family Support

• Educate patients and families regarding the speech therapy plan.
• Educate other members of the health care team regarding the speech therapy plan.
• Act as an advocate by empowering patients and their families to make informed choices through information and support.
• Direct relevant support services when appropriate.
• Provide consultation to patients, families, staff, community agencies, and satellite centers.
• Participate in patient education programs.
• Actively design patient education programs.
• Teach and develop educational materials for staff and patients.

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Participate in community outreach activities including school-based therapy and homecare.
• Provide specialized teaching and supervision of peers and junior staff on a wide range of subjects within the clinical field.
• Provide specialized training across a wide range of subjects within the clinical field.
• Participate in new staff and student orientation aimed at developing competence and performance.
• Act as a mentor in the supervision and teaching of therapy students and new staff to develop their competencies.
• Assist in maintaining a suitable learning environment.
• Actively welcome and provide support for new staff and students to the unit.

Research, Quality, and Continuous Improvement

• Identify speech language pathology research opportunities and participate in, develop, and promote research.
• Participate in the development of programs that seek to measure outcomes and quality, including audit and research studies, under guidance, support, and direction of senior staff.
• Actively participate in the development of programs that seek to measure outcomes and quality, including audit and research studies.
• Continually identify improvements within service while minimizing risks.
• Lead service-based performance improvement activities and organizational committees as assigned.
• Lead special projects and assignments linked to clinical specialism, therapy strategic priorities, and professional practice models.
• Contribute to the achievement of clinical quality outcome indicators and patient satisfaction.
• Contribute to decreasing length of stay/waiting time as per unit-specific goals.
• Continually create care that is optimal for patients and families.
• Promote continuous improvement and help generate innovative ideas within speech and language therapy practice.

Professional Practice and Governance

• Integrate research with practice to provide evidence-based care.
• Utilize a professional practice framework and evidence-based care and therapy approaches for maximizing effective service delivery.
• Participate in the continued development, implementation, and evaluation of Sidra policies and procedures to align with international best practices.
• Promote and share knowledge via mentorship and preceptorship programs in line with relevant research and evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrate transcultural principles in speech language pathology practice.
• Promote a safe environment and safe patient care by embracing a safety culture.
• Identify areas of risk to the Speech Language Pathology Supervisor.
• Comply with policies for personal and patient safety and for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
• Contribute to the achievement of cost efficiency savings for the service.
• Maintain awareness of resource utilization, exercising care in the ordering and use of staff, equipment, and materials.
• Contribute and maintain a library of therapy resources and therapy equipment held within the department.
• Ensure equipment is complete, tidy, and adheres to Sidra Medicine infection control policies and procedures.
• Uphold organizational values at all times.
• Follow all hospital-related policies and procedures.
• Adhere to Sidra's standards as they appear in the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies.
• Adhere to and promote Sidra's values.
• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times and act as a role model for junior staff.
• Treat colleagues, patients, and visitors with dignity and respect always.
• Maintain confidentiality of patients at all times.

Communication and Teamwork

• Communicate information effectively when there are barriers to communication and understanding.
• Motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills.
• Actively participate in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication and teamwork.
• Participate in performance development (PDP) meetings and supervision sessions.
• Promote patient satisfaction as a team member by demonstration of extraordinary service.
• Contribute to the retention of all staff to meet service-specific turnover rate goals.
• Participate in retention activities.

Professional Development and Compliance

• Maintain a commitment to continued professional development.
• Develop and maintain own knowledge and clinical skills.
• Fulfill mandatory training requirements.
• Maintain a professional profile with documented evidence of performance and maintenance of skills consistent with the position.
• Maintain Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) licensure.
• Be responsible for maintaining up-to-date mandatory Life Support Training requirements as directed by MoPH and Sidra (e.g., BLS, AED).
• Be an active member of the Speech and Language Pathology Team, attending relevant meetings as appropriate.
• Cope with occasionally potentially stressful, upsetting, or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Speech Language Pathology or Therapy (essential)
• Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology or Therapy (preferred)

Experience

• Five or more years of work experience in a clinical environment in a similar role (essential)
• Two or more years of clinical experience in a pediatric role (essential)
• Two or more years of clinical experience in pediatric dysphagia (preferred)

Certification and Licensure

• Registration as a Speech Language Pathologist or Therapist and licensure in country of origin (essential)
• Eligible to obtain license by Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) (essential)
• Post-graduate specialty certification in one or more of the following areas (preferred):
• Pediatric dysphagia
• Pediatric infant feeding or NICU
• Pediatric tracheostomy
• Pediatric VFSS or MBS