About Walker
Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.
Make a Difference Every Day—and Gain Skills You Can Use for Life
The Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) is responsible for providing direct therapy services to students with language development impairments, as well as consultation to teachers, parents and other professionals.
Essential Functions
- Work with school staff and leadership to ensure that speech and language (SL) services are aligned with the agency mission and core values. This includes but is not limited to services that are trauma informed, relationship based, family involved, developmentally focused, competence centered, and ecologically oriented.
- Provide focused SL Therapy interventions to students in 1:1 settings and/or small groups.
- Conduct SL Therapy groups in self-contained classrooms.
- Consult with teachers and other multidisciplinary team members on SL needs of students.
- Provide in-service education to teachers, clinicians, and direct care staff on SL needs and strategies.
- Provide formal and informal SL evaluations and write evaluation reports.
- Document and monitor client performance; write progress notes for Quarterly Progress reports.
- Organize, monitor, and maintain SL materials.
- Attend TEAM meetings, IEP meetings, and Multidisciplinary Team Meetings.
- Actively participate in supervision and professional development opportunities offered at Walker.
- Assist with classroom coverage and crisis support as needed.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Skills and Abilities
- Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
- Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations
- Capacity to work effectively in a stressful and fast-paced environment
- Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision
- Physical stamina to participate in activities with children
- Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, perform frequent bending, stooping, stretching, lifting, sitting, stairs, typing, and looking at a computer screen
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and computer experience is required
- Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, including during times of high stress.
Schedule:
- Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm – additional flexibility may be required based on operational and business needs
Qualifications
Education and Certifications
Required:
- M.A. in Speech/Language Pathology; C.C.C. (ASHA certification)
- DESE licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist
Other Requirements:
- Successfully complete all background check suitability requirements
- Must have reliable transportation
- Valid MA driver’s license preferred
Supervision:
Reports to: School Principal
Equal Opportunity Statement
Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.
Pay: $72,400.00 - $82,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have the following requirements for this role?
M.A. in Speech/Language Pathology; C.C.C. (ASHA certification)
DESE licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist
Ability to Commute:
- Needham, MA 02492 (Required)
Work Location: In person
