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Speech Language Pathologist III

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Speech Language Pathologist III

Salary

$39.72 - $55.61 Hourly

Location

Jefferson County, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

IJC 03300 08/20/2025

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

OAADS - Wheat Ridge Regional Center

Opening Date

08/20/2025

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

10285 Ridge Rd, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, USA

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Frank Marinaro - [email protected]

Type of Announcement

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits)

Wheat Ridge Regional Center

This work unit exists to provide an active learning atmosphere in a safe and healthy environment for residents with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. This work unit provides 24-hour treatment services in compliance with State and Federal regulations.

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Description of Job

About the Position:

The Speech Language Pathologist (Therapist III) will assess levels of communicative and swallow function, develop programs, coordinate, train and monitor Speech Therapy and Audiometric services at the Wheat Ridge Regional Center, as well as provides direct Speech Therapy services and supports for the WRRC residents. These services include the provision of feeding programs and guidelines to maintain the health and safety of individuals with oral motor dysfunction that put them at risk for choking, aspiration, and subsequent pneumonias. Speech Language Pathologists also address needs in the area of receptive and expressive language skills, as well as augmentative communication and hearing screenings. Across all areas of treatment, the position plays an essential role in supporting staff through education and training.

Additionally, as a Speech Language Pathologist you can expect to:

+ Participate in and provide input to the Interdisciplinary Team meetings, Department meetings and the resident’s annual Individual Planning meetings (IP’s). Makes recommendations to the ID team for goals, objectives and programs in area of speech therapy, dysphagia and hearing needs

+ Select appropriate assessment tools from standardized and non-standardized tests for the Intellectually Disabled population to determine, modifies assessments as needed in order to determine appropriate therapeutic intervention. Specifically, chooses from a variety of sources to complete appropriate assessments that best identify the needs of the individual. Assessments include oral motor/swallowing assessments to identify swallowing difficulties as well as to determine diet texture, adaptive eating equipment and specific self or assisted feeding techniques. Assessment also include standardized testing in receptive/expressive language as well as auditory processing and nonverbal communication. Criterion based testing is used to evaluate nonverbal communication and potential for augmentative communication. Measures possible decline in cognition reflected in adaptive and maladaptive behavior changes

+ Tailors primary Speech and Language Pathology theories and principles to develop different approaches and plans to meet the unique needs of the intellectually disabled individuals served at the regional center

+ Collaborates with Health Services to determine oral versus NPO status for nutritional needs. Collaborates with Occupational Therapy and Dietary departments in the management of oral motor swallowing function. Existing guidelines for feeding and oral motor stimulation are often modified in emergency situations such as a sudden decline in medical status or medication related side effects. These changes often necessitate different and specialized approaches to maintain safety of the resident

+ Collaborates with community Speech Language Pathologists in hospitals, and outpatient clinics for modified barium swallow studies

+ Develops individualized training objectives tailored to meet the needs that comply with the unique behavioral and/or physical challenges specific to the individual. The services and objectives address speech, language, and hearing deficits for residents who have cognitive and physical impairments that affect their receptive and expressive speech and language skills

+ Develop augmentative communication programs such as manual sign language, informal gestures that are meaningful to the individual, low tech picture communication systems, and speech generated communication devices. Implement programs to increase the resident’s independence in using a communication device or hearing aids

+ Develop specific objectives and programs, design appropriate data sheets, collect and analyze data and summarize information

+ Documents progress of all programs and objectives in the Resident Record. Determine needed revisions to flat-linted programs to assure further individual progress. This often necessitates developing creative and unique strategies to increase interest and participation in the program as well as unique datasheets. Directly implements selected programs and active treatment plans

+ Trains and monitors the speech therapy programs to Day Program and Residential direct care staff and ensures that the programs are integrated in the activity schedules of the Day Program and Residential areas. Provide training for new employee orientation. Teaches assigned core skills training for speech therapy that includes swallowing disorders (Dysphagia) and communication skills

+ Participates in committees as assigned to represent and advocate for the speech therapy department, manage budget and create and maintain positive working relationships with community providers for audiometric evaluations, community-based speech therapy and with SLPs that perform modified barium swallows

+ Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Current, valid licensure with Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to practice Speech and Language Therapy.

~AND~

TWO (2) yearsof experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitutions:

None

Conditions of Employment:

+ A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges

+ Must take successfully pass a Tuberculosis (TB) test.

+ Valid and current Colorado Driver's License

+ Travel – Drive state car to various group homes, programming, admin & in community

+ Other – Requires Influenza

+ Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contactfrank.marinaro @state.co.us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

+ Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

+ Medical and dental health plans

+ Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

+ Paid life insurance

+ Short- and long-term disability coverage

+ 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

+ BenefitHub state employee discount program

+ Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

+ Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

+ Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~ (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#eoe)

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

THE CAMPUS OF THE WHEAT RIDGE REGIONAL CENTER IS TOBACCO FREE

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

+ This information is available to me and I have read this information.

+ I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

02

Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting your application.

+ Yes

+ No

03

If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Failure to provide this requested information may render your application incomplete, and you may no longer be considered for the position.

04

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.

05

Please discuss your experience working with intellectual disabilities and/or mental illness?

06

What is your experience with dysphagia and neurological disorders?

07

Do you have any additional certifications or areas of specialty that you feel would support your success in this position.

08

Do you have a Current Speech Language Pathology License with the State of Colorado? If yes, please list the license number.

09

What is your experience working with people with Autism and/or behavioral issues?

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

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