We are looking for a neuroaffirming SLP to join our fun and pet-loving team of 5 SLPs, 2 OTs, and administrative staff! 

We are currently hiring for a part-time SLP, with the potential to increase to full time in April. We're also open to hiring an SLPA.

We provide in-home, in-clinic, and online speech–language and occupational therapy utilizing parent coaching. In addition to assessments and therapy, this position would also require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation and therapy, with training and mentorship provided as needed. North Star provides neurodiversity-affirming therapy. Our goal is to improve the field of speech–language pathology and the quality of therapy our clients receive. The clientele is primarily early intervention (birth to 3 years old), autistic children, speech-generating device (SGD) users, young adults with developmental disabilities, and speech sound disorders including childhood apraxia of speech. We provide high-quality mentorship and frequent collaboration with the rest of the team. We use progressive strategies, including an ultrasound machine for biofeedback for speech production and AAC for all individuals who have difficulty communicating verbally. Our amazing administrative staff handle all scheduling so that the therapists can focus on clinical work. 

Yes, 40 hours per week is guaranteed regardless of cancellations. 

Pay is determined by evaluating a combination of years of experience in the field and competency-based ratings based on the interview and resume. 

Therapist I or RPE: A newly-graduated or novice clinician who has shown competency or emerging competency in the following areas: 

• Knowledge and understanding of assessment and intervention with ability to independently seek support for difficult cases as needed, evaluated using summative and formative competency-based assessment
• Humanistic skills including self-reflection, self-directed learning, inquisitiveness, and vulnerability
• Demonstrates scores of 1–2 on North Star’s competency-based rating form

Job description includes: 

• Perform direct therapeutic activities approximately 20–30 hours per week 

   

Therapist II: A clinician who has shown competency in the following areas: 

• Technical skills in required areas with independent mentorship of peers and less experienced therapists as needed evaluated using summative and formative competency-based assessment
• Demonstrates scores of 2–4 on North Star’s competency-based rating form

A clinician with emerging skills in the following areas: 

• Leadership skills including empathy, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Identification of areas of growth in self, peers, supervisors, and the organization as a whole; may seek support from supervisors to develop goals and/or enact quality or process improvement initiatives
• Shows interest in developing advanced competency in at least one high-interest specialty area

Job description includes: 

• Perform direct therapeutic activities approximately 20–30 hours per week
• Participate in peer mentorship of Therapist I and/or RPEs as needed
• Mentor graduate student clinicians 1–2 times per year
• Lead/facilitate in-service continuing education opportunities for therapists and staff at least 1 time per year with support from Therapist III
• Present at a professional conference at least once every two years

Therapist III

An experienced clinician who has shown competency in the following areas: 

• Advanced technical skills, including knowledge of recent research and clinical application of research, evaluated using summative and formative competency-based assessment
• Advanced humanistic skills, including self-awareness and analytical skills and leadership, mentorship, and supervision of other clinicians
• Demonstrates scores of 4–5 on North Star’s competency-based rating form
• Knowledge of business operations in order to inform safe and business-minded recommendations
• Knowledge of operations and process improvement methodologies, and participation in at least two process or quality improvement initiatives within the organization
• Shows advanced competency in at least one high-interest specialty area

Job description includes: 

• Mentorship and supervision of Therapist II’s, Therapist I’s, and CFs as needed
• Organization and implementation of research projects with support from Director/CEO and Therapy Manager as needed
• Facilitation of in-service continuing education opportunities for therapists and staff at least 1–2 times per year
• Perform direct therapeutic activities approximately 18–30 hours per week
• Present at a professional conference at least once every two years

Health insurance (eligible 30 days after start date): North Star pays for 50% of Kaiser Silver HMO A, approximate value $3,600 per year

Dental insurance (eligible 30 days after start date): North Star pays for 50% of dental HMO, approximate value $120 per year

Vision insurance (eligible 30 days after start date): North Star pays for 50% of vision HMO, approximate value $240 per year

401k: North Star pays for management of the 401k, but does not offer matching

Professional liability insurance, approximate value $100 per year

Bonus structure (taxable, eligible for bonuses 90 days after start date): 

• Attendance Bonus: based on percent of completed visits per month (75% completed visits: $50/month, 85% completed visits: $100/month, 90% completed visits: $150/month)
• Utilization Bonus: based on total completed billable hours/month (110 billable hours/month (approx. 25/week): $100, 120 billable hours/month (approx. 28/week): $150, 130 billable hours/month (approx. 30/week): $200, 140 billable hours/month (approx. 32/week): $400)
• Social Review Bonus: if a client leaves a positive review on Yelp or Google Reviews and specifically mentions you as their child's therapist, receive a $50 bonus (unlimited per year)
• Client Referral Bonus: if a new client specifically requests you for ongoing appointments, receive a $100 bonus (unlimited per year), approximate value varies $1,800–$6,600+ per year

All materials provided, with additional materials purchased upon request/as needed

The office is open 8 am–5:30 pm, Monday–Friday. Therapists may work 8 am–4:30 pm or 9 am–5:30 pm depending on the mutual needs of the company and the employee. All employees have a 30 minute unpaid lunch from 12:30 pm–1 pm. 

None

PTO/sick pay: 10 days accrued per year, approximate value $2,590–$4,000

3.334 hours per pay period, two pay periods per month. Therapists can request paid or unpaid time off. Time off requests are submitted through the ADP portal (same portal used to clock hours for pay periods) at least 2 weeks in advance. Unlimited unpaid time off is approved as long as therapist works 4 out of 5 days (i.e., a therapist can request 1 Friday off every 5 weeks). 

11 paid holidays (New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, December 24, December 25, and New Year’s Eve), approximate value $3,256–$4,400

• Sessions are either 30 minutes or 60 minutes, depending on the funding source and/or needs of the client. Regardless of session length, no more than 3 clients are seen back-to-back without a 15- to 30-minute break, which can be used for documentation and prep.
• In addition, therapists also receive 60 minutes per day of documentation and prep time. On average, productivity (we call it billable time) is about 20 hours per week. This includes some indirect billable time, such as programming AAC devices.
• Therapists receive bonuses for client attendance and hours scheduled.

The ideal candidate:

• Has experience with parent/caregiver coaching or willingness to learn to use parent/caregiver coaching in all speech-language therapy sessions
• Has pediatric experience, ideally including experience with autism and AAC evaluation and treatment
• Is knowledgeable about the neurodiversity framework or has willingness to learn about neurodiversity and depathologizing autism
• Enjoys reading, discussing, and applying research to clinical practice
• Is open to giving and receiving feedback and seeks to continuously improve clinical skills through mentorship
• Has excellent emotional intelligence, independence, and self-motivation
• Is flexible and wants the variability of working in different settings including early intervention, private practice, and telehealth
• Is open to working with developmentally disabled individuals of all ages
• Diverse candidates (e.g., neurodiverse; disabled; culturally-, ethnically-, and linguistically-diverse; LGBTQIA+) are encouraged to apply

State licenses: CA

CCCs required: No

Other required qualifications: None

No

Accepts CFs? Yes

% of SLPs in company who are CFs: 0%

CF supervision provided: Yes

CF details: We value high-quality mentorship, with an on-site mentor, collaboration with the whole team, and training/meetings available whenever they are needed. 

Training program: The first few days on the job will include clinic on-boarding from our Director of Operations and observation/overlap with current therapists. New therapists get a minimum of 1 hour per week of scheduled mentorship/consultation time with the lead therapist. RPEs/CFs receive a minimum of 2 hours per week scheduled mentorship/consultation time. Additionally, the whole team (6 SLPs, 2 OTs, administrative staff) meet every Friday for 90 minutes for clinical and administrative training.