Job Description

The Allied Health Services (AHS) team, under Professional Practice consists of Regulated Healthcare Professional including: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Social Work, Registered Dietitians, as well as unregulated Rehabilitation Assistants. Each discipline is focused on driving evidence informed practice to promote high quality patient and family centered care.

The team has a professional practice leader (PPL) model for each regulated allied health discipline which promotes and enhances the interprofessional team. Each regulated discipline has their own PPL with dedicated time to enhance their communities of practice, represent their respective disciplines at committees, create policies & procedures and lead corporate level initiatives.

We are currently seeking a permanent full time Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and Speech Language Pathology Professional Practice Leader (PPL). This role will include dedicated PPL time (0.2FTE) as well as clinical SLP shifts (0.8FTE) supporting inpatient/outpatient acute care and rehabilitative care needs.

Position Summary:

The Professional Practice Leader (PPL) is the representative of their specific health care professional discipline at RVH. The PPL provides leadership in creating, articulating and sustaining an organizational wide plan for the interprofessional practice of the respective discipline and emphasizes the highest quality, evidence based, patient and family centered care. The PPL maintains an active clinical practice within RVH. It is the responsibility of all Regulated Health Professionals to be accountable to their individual College to ensure they maintain a high standard of practice including ongoing education/training to maintain best practice in the delivery of safe, effective and ethical treatment for their patients.

Education/Experience/Qualifications:

• Master's Degree specific to Communication Sciences and Disorders - Speech Language Pathology (or equivalent) - required
• Current & valid registration with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario - required.
• Membership in discipline-specific Professional Association required.
• Minimum of five years varied clinical practice experience with demonstrated clinical excellence.
• Recent experience within varied clinical practice areas of acute care (medical and surgical) and rehabilitative care
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A strong ability to identify, assess, evaluate, treat, and manage communication impairments and/or swallowing disorders
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills including experience in the role of mentor.
• Understanding of professional standards and management of ethical issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with the Regulated Health Professions Act of Ontario, standards of practice, and scope for discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to manage change and to foster an environment which promotes personal accountability.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple projects at one time.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve goals and objectives within a specified time frame.

Accountabilities:

Practice Leadership

• Represents Allied Health Services as a member of the Professional Advisory Committee

• Advocates that College legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines are met
• Develop, disseminate and sustain profession specific and interprofessional standards of care, medical directives, policies and procedures, and pre-printed orders
• Promotes, advances, integrates and sustains evidence based practice within professional and across interprofessional care teams
• Supports the practice development of unregulated discipline specific support staff (as appropriate)
• Identifies and addresses areas of clinical risk related to practice and college standards
• Promotes the advancement of the profession, both internally and externally through practice, research and quality initiatives
• Advises programs and services on issues related to skill mix, scope of practice and licensing and credentialing in planning programs and services
• Collaborates with Human Resources and the leadership team in the development and implementation of recruitment, selection, orientation and retention strategies
• Monitors and maintains profession-specific accreditation standards and workload measurement system (as applicable)
• Interprets workload measurement data
• Evaluates outcomes of profession-specific interventions, structures, and processes
• Recommends appropriate utilization of professional services across the organization
• Develops and evaluates profession-specific strategic plans
• Ensures profession-specific participation in strategic planning
• Collaborates with managers/directors regarding recruitment, hiring, performance management as specific to profession
• Directs implementation/promotion of Best Practice (e.g., evidence-based practice)

Professional Practice:

• Monitors and maintains professional standards and Code of Ethics
• Provides consultation to professional staff through leadership and mentorship
• Supervises clinical pathway development, implementation, and evaluation
• Consult with other PPLs, educators, and other members of the interprofessional team to provide alternative approaches to situations regarding staff and patients/families
• Develops and facilitates a system that ensures current professional credentialing is intact throughout the organization
• Advocates for the profession within patient care delivery system
• Ensures that the care delivery system integrates research, education, and evidence-based clinical care
• Represents the profession in internal and external forums
• Develops and facilitates educational forums that provide current clinical trends and/or issues
• Manages ongoing and enhanced education/certification/credentialing of staff
• Promotes the implementation of advances in technology and therapeutic interventions
• Represents RVH externally on regional, provincial, national, professional practice related committees

Professional Development/Education/Research:

• Fosters an environment that cultivates evidence-based practice, continuous quality improvement, scientific inquiry and research within the discipline and across patient care teams
• Participates in and cultivates opportunities for clinically based research, professional presentations and publications

Unless otherwise stated applicants must have a minimum educational requirement of Grade 12 or equivalent and must demonstrate proven workplace excellence through commitment to strong job performance and attendance.

Please be reminded that as a Regional Health Centre, in order to provide the necessary patient care, our operations run 24/7. Therefore, depending on the program for which you are applying, it may be an expectation that you are available to work week days and weekends, as well as all shifts - days, evenings, and nights.

Employment Equity

RVH is committed to diversity and employment equity in the workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to a diverse workplace.

RVH COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

All job offers will require compliance with our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for proof of full vaccination unless provided with a medical exemption or an accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Accommodation in the Workplace

RVH offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process, and is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). RVH will work proactively through all stages of recruitment to create a barrier-free process and to provide accommodations as required. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Human Resources at 705-739-5605.

Health & Safety Workplace Responsibilities

• Must adhere to the duties of workers, as stipulated in Section 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Must adhere to all RVH administrative and applicable departmental occupational health and safety policies, procedures and protocol.
• Must adhere to Bill 132 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in regards to the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act, and creating a work environment free of psychological harassment.
• Must be able to perform all bona fide essential duties in the position description, which may include lifting and moving patients, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, etc.
• Must complete a pre-employment health assessment, including review of the Job Demands Analysis for the position, as a condition of employment.
• Must strive to continuously provide a safe and supportive environment for patients, staff, physicians, and volunteers.

Our Code of Conduct

All staff, physicians, volunteers, service providers and students are committed to creating a positive, respectful work environment for each other and our patients and families.

RVH is guided by its MY CARE strategic plan which puts patients and families at the centre of all we do.

Our Vision

Make each life better. Together.

Our Mission Statement

Exceptional care is our passion.

People are our inspiration.

Safety is our promise.

Our Values

Work Together | Respect All | Think Big | Own It | Care

If you are interested in joining our inspiring team, please apply online before 1100pm EST on the posting close date. Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If interviewed, an accompanying portfolio may be required which will include documented evidence of course completion. An inclusive, barrier-free selection process will be provided as required under RVHs Employment Accommodation Policy. Applicants need to make their needs known to Human Resources in advance and information related to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

As part of the mandatory screen process RVH requires professional references, verification of academic training, professional accreditation, plus a current Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening.