Speech & Language Therapist, Senior | Teiripeoir Urlabhra Teanga, Sinsearach

Purpose of the Post

· The person appointed to this post will work on the Reablement Team providing a service to adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders to facilitate Admission Avoidance and enable Early Supported Discharge.

· They will form part of the multi-disciplinary team delivering a high quality out-reach model of care.

· They will develop and participate in quality improvement projects within the Reablement Service and SLT Dept.

· They will support and supervise students and staff as designated and promote continuing professional development.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Speech and Language Therapist, Senior will:

Professional / Clinical

• Be responsible for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment / intervention programmes for service users according to professional standards.
• Be able to make senior clinical decisions following assessment of complex cases.
• Communicate results of assessments and recommendations to the service user and the MDT/ relevant others as appropriate.
• Conduct/ Participate in objective swallow assessments relevant to the role.
• Document all assessments, diagnoses, treatment / intervention plans, clinical notes, relevant contacts and summaries in accordance with the HSE policies SLT Department and professional standards.
• Collaborate with service user, family, carers and the MDT in goal setting, and treatment / intervention planning and evaluation as appropriate.
• Provide clinical leadership in the day-to-day running of the RT and SLT service by supporting and supervising staff, prioritising and allocating work and promoting positive staff morale.
• Be responsible for maintenance of standards of practice of self and designated staff.
• Foster close working relationships with colleagues and other relevant professionals in maximising the service users potential.
• Actively engage in team-based performance management.
• Provide support and information in relation to communication and / or feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing disorders etc. to service users and relevant others
• Attend clinics and participate in relevant meetings and case conferences as required.
• In conjunction with the Speech and Language Therapist Manager, contribute to the development and implementation of procedures, policies and guidelines while adhering to existing standards and protocols.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation
• Seek advice and assistance from the Speech and Language Therapist Manager and / or Clinical Lead with any assigned cases or issues that prove to be beyond the scope of his / her professional competence in line with principles of best practice and clinical governance.
• Operate within the scope of Speech & Language Therapy practice as set out by the Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists.
• Participate in and develop activities, which support health promotion.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the Speech & Language Therapist Manager.

Education and Training

• Participate in mandatory and recommended training programmes in accordance with the SLT departmental or organisational guidelines.
• Participate in CPD and receive Clinical Supervision specific to the role.
• Maintain and develop SLT professional expertise and knowledge by actively engaging in continuing professional development e.g. reflective practice, by attending and presenting at in-service events, training courses, conferences, professional courses or other courses relevant to practice, participating in research etc.
• Manage, participate and play a key role in the practice education of student therapists and promote and engage in the teaching / training / support of others as appropriate.
• Avail of and participate in own supervision with Speech & Language Therapist Manager.
• Engage in planning and performance reviews, as required with the Speech and Language Therapist Manager.

· Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.

· To manage, participate and play a role in the practice education of student therapists

Health & Safety

• Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of relevant / designated individual(s) in line with best practice.
• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect.
• Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
  Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Administrative

• Organise and deliver the SLT service within the RT service.
• Promote quality by reviewing and evaluating the SLT Service within RT, the RT service as a whole as well as contributing to SLT department service level evaluation.
• Identify changing needs and opportunities to improve services.
• Assist the Speech and Language Therapist Manager in service development, including policy development and implementation.
• Ensure the maintenance of accurate records in line with best clinical governance, the organisation’s requirements, the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection (GDPR).
• Provide reports and other information / statistics as required.
• Engage in service audit and demonstrate the achievement of the service objectives.
• Participate in risk identification and management relevant to the role.
• Represent the department / profession / team at meetings and conferences as appropriate.
• Deputise for the Speech and Language Therapist Manager as required.
• Participate in the control and ordering of clinical equipment.
• Engage in technological developments as they apply to the service user and service administration.
• Keep up to date with change and developments within the Irish Health Service.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

1.Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered or be eligible for registration, as a Speech & Language Therapist by

the Speech & Language Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

(https://www.coru.ie/)

And

(ii) Have 3 years full time (or an aggregate of 3 years full time) post qualification

clinical experience.

And

(iii) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high

standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the

duties of the office.

And

(iv) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Speech & Language Therapist

Register maintained by the Speech & Language Therapists Registration Board at

CORU beforea contract of employment can be issued.

2. Annual registration

(i)On appointmentpractitioners must maintain annual registration on the Speech &

Language Therapists Register maintained by the Speech & Language Therapists

Registration Board at CORU.

And

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of

the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4.Character

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the relevant division of the register maintained by: CORU

Post Specific Requirements

• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of working with adult patients with acquired communication and swallowing disorders in acute care / rehabilitation/ primary care or other community setting.
• Be familiar with instrumental swallow assessments (Videofluoroscopy and FEES) and be open to upskilling in this area.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of working with Frail/ Older Persons clients.

· Demonstrate knowledge of the Assisted Decision Making Capacity Act

· Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Other requirements specific to the post

• Must have access to appropriate transport to carry out domiciliary visits.

• Must have recognised dysphagia qualification as outlined in “Standards of Practice for Speech & Language Therapists, on the Management of Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)” Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists (IASLT) 2015.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

· Demonstrate sufficient command of the English language to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.

· Demonstrate sufficient clinical knowledge and evidence based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.

· Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to evidence based practice.

· Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver care in an effective and resourceful manner.

· Demonstrate an ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment.

· Demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate information and make appropriate decisions.

· Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a user centred service.

· Demonstrate effective team skills.

· Display effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, carers, etc.

· Display awareness and appreciation of the service user and the ability to empathise with and treat service users / others with dignity and respect

· Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.

· Demonstrate ability to utilise supervision effectively.

· Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.

· Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development.

· Demonstrates effective and efficient use of resources and maintains an awareness of value for money.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out based on information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not progressing to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process, where applied, will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience.

The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.

The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long-term health condition.

Read more about the HSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

Code of Practice

The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).

The CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles to be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice. The Code outlines the standards to be adhered to at each stage of the selection process and sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates should they be unhappy with a selection process.

Read the CPSA Code of Practice.

The reform programme outlined for the health services may impact on this role, and as structures change the Job Specification may be reviewed.

This Job Specification is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Please ensure you complete and upload the application form attached to the job advert as CVs will not be accepted for this position