Overview
Post Title: Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Post Status: Permanent Department Speech & Language TherapyLocation: Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 Reports to: Speech & Language Therapy ManagerSalary: Appointment will be made on the Speech & Language Therapist salary scale (€68,625- €79,635) at a point in line with Government pay policy. Hours of work: Full time 35 Hours Per WeekClosing Date: February 18th 2025 5.00Pm Position Summary: The post holder will have responsibility for the provision of a specialist speech & language therapy service for those attending the speech and language therapy ENT and voice service.The post has a designated clinical and service development component in addition to a research remit. This post will lead in the SLT led clinic in ENT as part of the dysphonia & dysphagia modernised care pathway and will work to achieve specific KPIs identified and assist in reducing waiting lists for ENT.
Responsibilities
Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical & Professional Responsibilities• Provide comprehensive specialist assessment, treatment and information regarding the communication and swallowing ability of individuals, ensuring full client and family involvement, underpinned by a broad range of specialist knowledge and experience.• Manage and run the SLT led parallel clinic in ENT in conjunction with the relevant ENT consultants and the SLT manager• Develop the skills required to provide a specialist innovative service and to advance SLT practice in the area as appropriate. • Develop the SLT led parallel clinic in accordance with the model of care to provide a high quality service to patients and assist in the reduction of the ENT consultant waiting lists.• Manage an outpatient Voice and/ or ENT outpatient caseload for those patients who required specific intervention in an acute care setting.• Lead the development of innovations in and adhere to best practice in quality standards and clinical effectiveness in the clinical area. • Manage and prioritise a complex and specialised caseload relating to ENT related disorders according to need and departmental guidelines.• Take a lead role in demonstrating clinical effectiveness through the application of evidence based practice.• Ensure that privacy and dignity of the client and family is respected at all times. • Act as a clinical resource to other Speech and Language Therapists at a local and national level.• Provide advice and training to other professionals as may be required.• Keep informed of current changes in clinical and professional practice by attendance at courses, seminars and reading professional/scientific publications.• Maintain an accurate record-keeping system to comply with legal requirements, to maintain high level of patient care, to support clinical studies and to provide information for data collection.• Represent the department within the context of a multidisciplinary team. • Attend and participate in all team meetings and journal clubs as appropriate.• Be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries.• Work within departmental and national guidelines and professional code of conduct to ensure quality of care.• To be involved in instrumental assessment clinics as appropriate.• In conjunction with other SLTs, to provide a service to other patient groups, outside of clinical specialist area, as agreed with the SLT Manager.• To undertake other duties appropriate to the office as may be required by the Speech & Language Therapist Manager. Continuing Professional Development • Identify and fulfil professional/personal development objectives with manager and peers.• Maintain a record of CPD activities to demonstrate evidence of ongoing professional development.• Attend relevant training in order to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge required of a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.• Demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with speech and language therapist manager and peers to identify own strengths and development needs.• To participate in Personal Development Planning, Professional Supervision, Peer Review and Quality Improvement. Working Relationships • To maintain close liaison with all relevant personnel, including primary care and other services, with the objective of providing a quality SLT service that responds to the needs, priorities, concerns and safety of the patient.• Manage varying professional viewpoints in a professional manner that results in improved service delivery and care. • Work closely with all speech and language therapists within the department to ensure a high quality service is provided to all clients who attend the speech and language therapy service. Education & Training• Play an active role in departmental in-service training.• Provide supervision/mentoring for other speech and language therapy staff and speech and language therapy assistants as required.• Be involved in the education and supervision of speech and language therapy students.• Provide education and training for other healthcare and education staff.• Develop and/or facilitate the running of training programmes for speech and language therapists and other professionals as may be appropriate. Administration• Adhere to local guidelines regarding confidentiality and data protection legislation, professional standards and departmental guidelines.• Monitor, evaluate and plan for the service as required.• Liaise with relevant professional colleagues regarding service planning.• Advise line manager on issues of service delivery specific to the clinical area.• Maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with the Beaumont Hospital Record Keeping Policy.• Initiate and carry out regular clinical audit activates appropriate to the Speech & Language Therapy department.• Be familiar with and adhere to hospital guidelines and policies as relevant including Confidentiality and the Process of Consent.• Read and adhere to issued staff departmental guidelines and policies to ensure professional practice and optimal patient care.• Attend departmental staff meetings. • Assist in the recruitment of new staff and the induction process as required.• Assume delegated tasks as requested, including participation in working groups and policy development groups.• To adhere to health & safety, hygiene, infections control and other hospital guidelines.• In conjunction with other SLT staff, to deputise for the SLT Manager where appropriate. • Perform such other duties as may be assigned by speech and language therapist management. Research• Identify research needs within the service and relevant clinical area.• Initiate and undertake research projects appropriate to the service and relevant clinical area. • Disseminate research outcomes to improve service delivery.• Design research according to evidence based practice. • Identify and use research resources available within the hospital and from other relevant stakeholders.
Qualifications
Selection Criteria: Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria. 1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc(a) Candidates for appointment must:(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, as a Speech & LanguageTherapist by the Speech & Language Therapists Registration Board atCORU.AND(ii) Have 5 years full time (or equivalent) years post qualification clinicalexperience of which 4 years full time (or equivalent) must be consecutivein the required area of specialism.AND(jii) Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence in the specialismAND(iv) Professional Development and PracticeCandidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professionaldevelopment relevant to the required area of specialism, in the form of postgraduate qualifications or relevant courses.AND(v) Candidates must demonstrate achievement in the areas of clinical audit,quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching andresearch.AND(vi) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a highstandard of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) forthe proper discharge of the duties of the office.AND(vii) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Speech & LanguageTherapist Register maintained by the Speech & Language TherapistsRegistration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can beissued. 2. Annual registration(i) On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on theSpeech & 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 wayof the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).Speech & Language Therapist, Clinical SpecialistGrade Code 30253. HealthCandidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable ofundertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as wouldindicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 4. CharacterCandidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.Desirable:• Knowledge of the Irish Health Service• Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence in the specialism with achievements in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research. • Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the required area of specialism, in the form of post-graduate qualifications or relevant courses.• Competency in Endoscopy, FEES and/or Videofluroscopy. Informal enquiries only:Anne Healyannehealy@beuamont.ie