CFY Mentoring Program
Program Overview
The CFY Program at Westside aims to assist the CF in transitioning from being a student to being an independent provider of speech/language pathology services. A minimum of 80% of a CFs experience will be directly related to providing services to pediatric patients and managing a caseload. The experience will include the opportunity to provide a full range of services including screenings, evaluations and therapy. One of the biggest benefits to completing a CFY at Westside is the opportunity to provide therapy to children of all ages and with a multitude of different speech/language/communication diagnoses. Depending on the clinic, the opportunity to observe and participate in feeding therapy often exists.
Mentorship
All Westside CF mentors have their ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competency, have worked full time for at least 9 months after earning their CCC (most have worked even longer), and have taken the required supervisory coursework dictated by ASHA. In addition, onsite mentors are available allowing for incidental learning, opportunities for observations, and scheduled weekly meetings.
The mentor will work with the fellow to establish outcomes and performance levels to be achieved during the CF, and will provide guidance throughout the experience. The emphasis especially at the beginning of the experience is on learning. For this reason, caseloads are built up gradually to a level that meets productivity standards.
In addition to a CF mentor, each clinic typically has a team of speech/language pathologists available to provide support and that meets and collaborates on a regular basis.
Westside and the Westside speech leads/directors regularly provide inservices and training that foster growth for all therapists in the areas of speech and language as well as feeding.
Your Supervisor’s Role
Mentors at Westside provide more than just the supervisory activities required by ASHA. Your mentor will be an invaluable resource throughout your CFY experience. At the onset of the CFY, the mentor and CF meet to get to know each other and to determine the way the CF would prefer to receive feedback (verbal, written, in the moment, following a session, etc.) related to provision of services. Direct observations occur with regularity with weekly meetings occurring throughout the 36 week experience. More formal meetings occur at the conclusion of each of the three CFY segments. The mentor will utilize ASHA’s Clinical Fellowship Skills Inventory to provide feedback related to skills that are relevant, critical and important for entry-level practice. These include specific skills in the areas of evaluation, treatment, management and interaction.
Benefits of the Program at Westside
Westside CF Mentors are speech/language pathologists that volunteer to assume the role. It is not mandatory. This means that mentors have a genuine interest in working with Clinical Fellows in developing their skills.
In nearly all instances, the mentor is on-site, meaning they are providing their therapy services in the same clinic as the CF and work alongside the CF on a daily basis.
The experience will include the opportunity to provide a full range of services including screenings, evaluations and therapy. One of the biggest benefits to completing a CFY at Westside is the opportunity to provide therapy to children of all ages and with a multitude of different speech diagnoses. In a single day, you may have the opportunity to work with a 24 month old child with an expressive language delay, a five year old with a phonological disorder, a 9 year old with stuttering concerns and 12 year old that exhibits social pragmatic deficits secondary to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Completing a CFY at Westside also allows CFs to be a part of an interdisciplinary team which encourages growth in many areas.
Historically, nearly all speech/language pathologists that have completed their CFY at Westside have continued their employment with Westside after receiving their CCC-SLP.
How to Apply
To apply, click the button below and submit an application. A member of our HR team will reach out to you to schedule an interview or set up time to talk with you further about the program. We are looking for CF candidates that have a strong desire to learn, want to work with a great CF-mentor and team, and are committed to the Westside Way values.