Role Description

The Head of Department (Speech and Language Therapy) will lead, manage, and strengthen the Speech and Language Therapy division at the India Autism Center (IAC). This role requires an experienced clinician–administrator who will provide strategic direction, uphold clinical governance, and ensure adherence to evidence-based assessment and intervention practices for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, and related communication disorders.The HOD will guide a multidisciplinary team of therapists, drive quality improvement initiatives, and align departmental protocols with RCI, NICE, and APA standards to ensure holistic, person-centred, and ethical service delivery.

Core Responsibilities

1. Departmental Leadership and Strategy

• Provide visionary leadership to the Speech and Language Therapy department in alignment with IAC’s clinical and research objectives.
• Establish and maintain standardized frameworks for assessment, diagnosis, and intervention in accordance with RCI, NICE, and APA guidelines.
• Develop annual departmental plans, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for service delivery, quality assurance, and staff growth.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate therapists, interns, and junior clinicians to maintain excellence in clinical outcomes and documentation.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Governance Committee to uphold best practices, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance.

2. Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance

• Design, review, and approve standardized protocols for speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing assessments.
• Ensure quality control and accuracy of reports, therapy documentation, and treatment records.
• Conduct periodic audits, peer reviews, and clinical case conferences to monitor departmental performance.
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives, including updating therapeutic tools and integrating digital or AAC technologies.
• Ensure confidentiality, ethical adherence, and compliance with organizational and statutory norms.

3. Clinical Supervision and Case Oversight

• Oversee assessment and intervention planning for:
  • Receptive and expressive language development
  • Pragmatic/social communication skills
  • Articulation and phonological disorders
  • Fluency (stuttering/cluttering) and voice disorders
  • Oro-motor and feeding/swallowing challenges
  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) systems
• Provide expert clinical supervision in complex or co-morbid neurodevelopmental cases.
• Guide team members in designing individualized therapy plans, progress tracking, and outcome measurement.

4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Special Educators, and Behaviour Therapists to design integrated care plans.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case discussions, IPP (Individualized Program Plan) reviews, and care conferences.
• Contribute to development of campus-wide communication frameworks, AAC protocols, and cross-departmental training.
• Serve as the SLT representative in interdepartmental research, policy formulation, and clinical innovation.

5. Family and Caregiver Engagement

• Develop structured caregiver education programs for home-based communication support.
• Conduct family counseling sessions to enhance carryover of therapy goals in daily routines.
• Promote neurodiversity-affirming and inclusive communication practices across all interactions.
• Guide caregivers in the use of assistive communication tools and adaptive technology.

6. Training, Research, and Professional Development

• Organize internal workshops, seminars, and training programs for clinical staff and allied professionals.
• Promote research initiatives on speech-language development, neurodiversity, and communication sciences.
• Publish and present departmental findings in national and international conferences and journals.
• Support the development of academic partnerships and internship programs for student clinicians.

Requirements

Key Qualities

• Advanced understanding of speech, language, voice, and communication sciences.
• Experience in AAC systems, neurodevelopmental rehabilitation, and communication-based behavioral support.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and administrative management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Commitment to inclusive, ethical, and person-centered practice.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology / Audiology & Speech Sciences from a recognized institution.
• Valid registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in clinical and managerial roles within a core Speech and Language Therapy or Communication Disorders department.
• Proven expertise in leadership, supervision, and clinical service delivery for neurodivergent populations.
• Familiarity with RCI, NICE, and APA assessment and intervention frameworks.

Benefits

Careers are made to last at the India Autism Center. We make you an incomprehensible promise: With benefits created to support you at all stages of life, our employees grow professionally and personally while making a difference in society.

Our benefits are built on core categories of health, financial security, learning, personal & professional development.