Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Pediatrics

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Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Speech Pathology

• Support Sta Job Summary:

  Provides treatment to patients, with some guidance of a Speech-Language Pathologist, CCC-SLP. . Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)
• Outpatient Pediatrics Work Schedule Full-Time | Monday-Friday Typically 7:30 AM-4:30 PM, with occasional variation based on clinic needs

Location Vanderbilt Health Bill Wilkerson Center:

Medical Center East, South Tower, 1215 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232 Job Summary Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) to support our growing outpatient pediatric speech therapy program. Working under the supervision of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP), this role combines direct patient care with program support responsibilities that help deliver exceptional therapy services to children and families. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in pediatric speech-language pathology through individual and group therapy support, treatment preparation, patient interaction, and clinic operations. It is particularly well-suited for candidates with a Bachelor's degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Sciences and Disorders who are interested in building clinical experience prior to pursuing graduate education. Why You'll Love This Role

• Consistent Monday-Friday schedule with no weekends
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists
• Meaningful interaction with children and families
• Exposure to both individual and group therapy settings
• Collaborative, team-oriented outpatient environment
• Excellent experience for individuals considering a future Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology
• Opportunity to develop clinical, organizational, and patient care skills within a nationally recognized healthcare system Who Does Well in This Role This role may be a strong fit for candidates who:
• Enjoy working with children and families in a healthcare setting
• Are organized, dependable, and detail-oriented
• Thrive in collaborative, team-based environments
• Enjoy balancing direct patient interaction with behind-the-scenes support activities
• Take pride in helping programs run efficiently and effectively
• Are interested in gaining valuable pediatric rehabilitation experience
• Are considering future graduate study in Speech-Language Pathology Key Responsibilities
• Provide speech-language therapy treatment to pediatric patients under the supervision of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
• Assist with pediatric group therapy sessions and activities
• Prepare, organize, and maintain therapy materials and treatment resources
• Document treatment sessions and patient interactions accurately and promptly
• Educate patients, families, and members of the healthcare team under the guidance of the supervising SLP
• Maintain clean, safe, and organized treatment rooms and group therapy spaces
• Manage inventory and stock therapy materials, supplies, and program resources
• Support clinic operations and special projects as needed
• Assist in creating a positive, engaging, and patient-centered therapy environment What to Expect
• Approximately 30% direct patient care
• Regular participation in pediatric group therapy programs
• Significant involvement in treatment preparation, therapy resources, and clinical support activities
• Close collaboration with Speech-Language Pathologists and interdisciplinary team members Qualifications Required
• Bachelor's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, or related field
• Eligibility to practice as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant in Tennessee Preferred
• SLPA certification
• Experience working with pediatric patients
• Experience supporting group therapy programs
• Interest in pursuing graduate education in Speech-Language Pathology Work Environment This position is based in an outpatient pediatric rehabilitation setting serving children and families with a variety of communication needs.

The team values collaboration, compassion, accountability, and excellence in patient care. Successful candidates will be willing to support both direct therapy services and the operational needs that help create an exceptional patient experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides treatment as specified on the written treatment plan by the Speech-Language Pathologist. Provides education to patient, family, health care team and community. Completes timely documentation. The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Rehab

PTA/COTA

Patient Documentation (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature. Speech Pathology Patient & Family Education (Fundamental Awareness): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature. Treatment Planning (Fundamental Awareness): Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with treatment planning. Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings. These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health's reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South. Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact:

Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.

• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.

Breadth of Knowledge:

Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job.

Team Interaction:

Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues :

Develops Self and Others:

Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities

• Builds and Maintains Relationships:

  Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas

•

Communicates Effectively:

Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.

Delivering Excellent Services:

• Serves Others with

Compassion:

Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service

• Solves Complex Problems:

  Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner.

•

Offers Meaningful Advice and Support:

Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.

Ensuring High Quality:

• Performs Excellent Work:

  Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.

•

Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements:

Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

Managing Resources Effectively :

• Demonstrates Accountability:

  Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.

• Stewards Organizational Resources:

  Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.

•

Makes Data Driven Decisions:

Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

Fostering Innovation :

• Generates New Ideas:

  Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.

• Applies Technology:

  Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• Adapts to

Change:

Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience Experience Level :

Less than 1 year

Education:

Bachelor's (Required) This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth. Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.

PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO.

Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health.

Our mission:

personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities. Making Health Care Personal. We're looking for like-minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At VUMC, we place a priority on designing with and for our patients and families. We value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and discovery, and seek to be a place where everyone has the chance to thrive. We're the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and expanding footprint in towns and communities across the region. We employ more than 28,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research, and graduate medical education as well as critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fund-raising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many more. Our growing health system has more than 1,700 licensed hospital beds at: Vanderbilt University Hospital Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital It's also home to hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region. We serve our community with many unique and specialized services including the Level 1 Trauma Center, a highly experienced Transplant Center that does the most heart transplants in the world, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lung Institute, Burn Center and many more. World-leading academic departments and centers make scientific discoveries, advance clinical care and train the next generation of health care professionals. Our robust research enterprise consistently ranks among the highest in the country as measured by peer-reviewed grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. We're honored to be consistently considered among the nation's best hospitals, including being nationally ranked in multiple medical specialties for treating the most complex conditions in adults and children by US News and World Report. Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt ranked as the No. 1 children's hospital in the southeast in 2024. We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at VUMC for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in Making Health Care Personal.