Chief Speech Therapist at Eastern Cape Department of Health

REQUIREMENTS :

• Appropriate qualification that allows for the required registration with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in speech therapy or speech therapy and audiology. Registration with the HPCSA in Speech Therapy or Speech Therapy and Audiology.
• A minimum of 3 years appropriate experience in speech therapy or speech therapy and audiology after registration with the HPCSA as an Independent Practitioner.
• The following will be added advantage: Experience in management of speech, language, communication and feeding difficulties in the adult population

DUTIES :

• To coordinate and provide effective speech therapy service to in and outpatients. Manage a team of speech therapists within the speech therapy and audiology department. To be responsible for the management of the adult speech therapy services and to ensure the implementation and review of evidence-based protocols and procedures, and regular clinical monitoring of service provision and the ongoing development of services.
• Planning and problem solving appropriately. Identifying departmental needs, managing waiting list, participating in implementing new services and developing management protocols for improved patient care. Control the identification of the needs of therapeutic programmes and the execution thereof.
• Ensure quality/ risk management and control. Develop and review departmental policies, procedures and protocols and ensure adherence to applicable health legislation. Manage, monitor assistive devices and control. Appropriate budgeting and demand plan.
• To manage all resources appropriately. Keep records, manage information and write reports as per provincial guidelines. Monitor, improve and report on the quality of teamwork. Provide mentoring to team members and identify training needs of team members and implement skills development programme.
• Collect and analyse data and contribute research. To participate in all department, hospital and provincial activities. To work within an MDT approach including attendance and participation in providing education and counselling to patients, family and caregivers and participation in MDT meetings. Monitoring and reviewing patient progress.
• Documenting patient information, statistics, attending ward rounds, discussions and meeting within a multidisciplinary team. Contributing to service development by monitoring, evaluating and co-ordination of existing and new services. Providing public education regarding feeding and communication difficulties. To comply with all departmental procedures and protocols. To manage all resources appropriately.
• To complete monthly statistics and reports. To participate in all departmental, hospital and provincial activities. Reportable to the assistant director of speech therapy and Audiology. Comply with Performance Management and Development System (contracting, quarterly reviews, and final assessments).