Educational Therapist

An Educational Therapist provides care, therapy, and education to children, their families, teachers, and/or facilitators to support their literacy acquisition through reading and writing in collaboration with various allied professionals. This involves working in areas such as literacy development, reading comprehension, and written expression.

S/He serves the needs of the children from the different sectors within the Canossian Village and the wider community. S/He works collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to provide quality care and contributes to the Village’s efforts in providing an enhanced service delivery through the Canossian Circle of Care. S/He also participates in continuing education and research as needed.

S/He should be collaborative and possess strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Critical Work Tasks

Casework - Assessment and Intervention Planning

• Conduct assessment to determine child’s level of functioning in their natural environment and identify areas requiring intervention
• Formulate client-centred and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely) goals based on assessment findings and educational goals in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. For EIPIC and preschool cases, ensure that goals are based on child's needs and aligned with the ECHO framework and CPS curriculum.
• Select appropriate and specific outcome measures to enable evaluation of intervention progress and outcomes
• Provide intervention recommendations based on evaluation of child's needs
• Communicate assessment results (including Functional Age Estimates (FAE) for EIPIC cases), intervention plans, goals and outcome measures to relevant stakeholders at Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or Global Child Outcomes (GCO) meetings
• Utilise evidence-based practices for assessment, case formulation and intervention planning

Casework - Delivery of Intervention

• Provide evidence-based intervention through individual and/or group format, pull-out and/or push-in support, depending on child's needs
• Select teaching methods and instructional materials that meet young learners’ varying needs in literacy acquisition (reading and writing)
• Participate in collaborations (e.g., provide consultations, co-plan activities, review progress, provide coaching) with relevant stakeholders (e.g., teachers, facilitators and parents) to support child in achieving intervention goals and generalising strategies within classroom and home settings
• Evaluate intervention progress and outcomes using selected therapy outcome measures regularly
• Modify intervention plans based on child's performance and motivation as well as intervention outcome measures collected
• Formulate discharge or care plans based on child's performance, in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Communicate intervention plans, outcome measures, progress and discharge criteria to relevant stakeholders during review meetings
• Utilise evidence-based practices for implementation of intervention and progress evaluation

Casework – Performance of Clinical Administration and Operations

• Comply with profession's ethical guidelines and organisation's clinical protocols, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Manage feedback from stakeholders

• Complete documentations (e.g., intervention plans, progress reports, case notes, case updates to sectors, recording of contact hours for provision of secondment/ itinerant services) accurately and promptly, and ensure they are well-maintained
• Utilise resources in a cost-effective manner through managing individual caseload and completion of clinical and administrative work in a timely manner
• Work within budget allocated for the financial year
• Furnish one’s caseload, outputs and outcomes for reporting

System Work – Within CCDU

• Identify areas of improvement in models of care and service delivery based on evidence-based practices
• Participate in research and evaluation for programme improvement

System Work – Within The Canossian Village

• Participate in sector or village-wide quality improvement projects/ programmes/ initiatives
• Assist in the planning and/or delivery of trainings/ workshops/ activities/ programmes to meet the learning needs for staff and caregivers

Personal Development

• Enhances professional growth and development by keeping up to date with current literature and through participating in educational programmes, in-service meetings, and workshops (internal and external)

Professional Development

• Assist in supervision and mentoring of interns, ensuring that interns under care are growing professionally

General

• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head, CCDU

Education and Experience

• Degree from a recognised university in related fields such as Early Childhood, Education, Special Education, Psychology
• Registered as a member of the Register of Educational Therapists (Asia)
• Minimum 2 years of experience supporting children with literacy difficulties
• Preferably trained in Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Possess relevant evidence-based knowledge and skills to perform the above job responsibilities with high quality standard
• Understanding and knowledge of service provision for children with additional needs and their families
• Able to translate technical knowledge into practice
• Able to tailor communication of technical knowledge according to recipient's level of understanding
• Knowledge of hearing loss will be an advantage

Generic Skills and Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Able to prioritise and manage all assigned responsibilities so as to ensure highest standards of service delivery and care for all stakeholders
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Is resourceful and possess the ability to problem-solve
• Able to work effectively as a team player within a multi-disciplinary team where members strive together for the highest standards of service delivery and care
• Able to contribute to a positive work and team culture
• Able to adapt to change and a willingness to embrace new strategies and ways of working
• Able to build and maintain strong relationships with different stakeholders to foster collaboration
• Awareness and understanding of diversity