Itinerant Preschool Speech-Language Pathologist

This is a 40 hour per week, calendar year position with our CDS Downeast office in Machias, working with preschool children with disabilities ages 3-5. Local Travel is required. Locations served include Baileyville, Princeton, and Calais.

SALARY RANGE:

$55,765 - $96,678 per year

Some benefits of CDS employment:

• Maine State Employee Medical coverage
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• $250 per year Professional Development Stipend
• Maine State Employee Living Resources Program (Employee Assistance)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
• Work/Life Balance
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Holidays
• Great coworkers, and the satisfaction of helping kids who really need you!

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

The therapist works as a part of a team of colleagues to evaluate and provide treatment services to children. The therapist, a member of the IFSP/IEP team, evaluates, and provides services to eligible children birth through 5 and ensures that services meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 as set forth in the Maine Department of Education Regulations Chapter 101. Individuals with Maine Department of Education Certification 293 may have written authorization to commit agency funds.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS include, but are not limited to:

PARENT COMMUNICATION:

• Ensures that the therapist’s role within Child Find process is explained to parents.
• Ensures that intake information is elaborated upon and elicits additional information from parents.
• Ensures that parents receive answers to their questions.
• Ensures that parents receive accurate information in a timely manner.
• Specific to the speech therapy domain, ensures that parents receive accurate explanations of the results of the child’s assessment.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT:

• Establishes rapport with children served.
• Conducts observations in the natural or LRE environment as ordered by the IFSP/IEP team.
• Gathers and reviews documentation specific to the child’s developmental history.
• Conducts interviews with parents to obtain information when specific to the child’s required developmental history and selects and administers assessment and other evaluation materials that are not discriminatory as ordered by the IFSP/IEP team.
• Determines the child’s level of functioning and expresses that in a summary of evaluation results and diagnostic impressions in an evaluation report provided for the IFSP/ IEP team.

RECORDKEEPING AND REPORT WRITING:

• Ensures that a written evaluation that comports with Chapter 101 is completed in a timely manner.
• Contributes goals to the IFSP/IEP team and short term objectives where appropriate.
• Writes and maintains required reports for therapy to meet MaineCare and other regulatory requirements.

IFSP/IEP TEAM PARTICIPATION

• Ensures that evaluation findings are reported to the IFSP/IEP team.
• Assists the IFSP/IEP team with goal development based upon assessment results.

EARLY INTERVENTION OR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES:

• Provides speech therapy services as specified by the IFSP/IEP.
• Communicates with CDS Case Managers and other providers through the course of a child’s IFSP/IEP.

BILLING DOCUMENTATION (INSURANCE AND MAINECARE):

• Requests prescriptions and authorizations for referrals as required by CDS.
• Ensures proper billing to third parties, in accordance with CDS practice.
• Provides invoices to CDS in accordance with CINC requirements.

OTHER:

• Any other appropriate duties the Site Director deems necessary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

State of Maine Speech Therapist License (required if position is billing MaineCare)

Maine Department of Education Certification 293 (allowable for non-MaineCare billing)

Successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting and reference check

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

• Masters Degree in an appropriate field of study
• Working knowledge of child development, disabilities, family systems, and special education methods
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of people
• Ability to provide individual and group services in a variety of settings and models
• Ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Ability to adapt therapy techniques to varying personalities and environments
• Ability to establish an effective rapport relationship with children and parents
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an early childhood team
• Ability to travel to a variety of locations to deliver services
• Ability to treat and motivate young children

Please send resume and completed CDS Employment Application (on CDS website) to:

Amy Bragg, Site Director
CDS Downeast
797 Wilson Street

Brewer, ME 04412

Fax: (207) 664-0461

Child Development Services serves the early intervention and special education needs of Maine`s children birth to age five. We have over 400 employees, a large network of contracted providers and currently serve over 3,500 children ages 0 to 5 years.

CDS consists of 10 principal sites throughout Maine with several satellite offices.

CDS is an equal opportunity employer.

#TCR

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,765.00 - $99,678.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Veterans’ Preference: Maine law provides a preference to qualified veterans and gold star spouses by ensuring they are offered an interview. If you are a veteran or a gold star spouse and wish to take advantage of this preference, please indicate below. Documentation is required. For more information, visit: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/veterans-preference-in-job-applications.

Please enter 1, 2, or 3 below as appropriate.
1. Not Claiming Veterans’ Preference
2. Veteran Claiming Preference (requires DD Form 214)
3. Gold Star Spouse Claiming Preference (requires DD Form 1300)

License/Certification:

• Maine SLP License (Preferred)
• MDOE 293 Certification (Preferred)

Work Location: In person