Senior Speech and Language Therapist in ENT

Position Summary:

This senior speech and language therapist in ENT, has responsibility (alongside other senior colleagues) for the management and development of the Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service in ENT service. The post will involve working with people with both communication and swallowing difficulties following head and neck related medical conditions. The successful candidate will work across both inpatient and outpatient caseloads with patients who present with a variety of ENT related conditions, including patients post laryngectomy.

There are 2 senior posts available in this area and the successful candidates will be part of integral part of the well-structured, multi-speciality Beaumont Hospital SLT team with excellent support and opportunities for CPD.

Responsible to
The post holder will be responsible to the Speech and Language Therapist Manager, Beaumont Hospital.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Responsibilities:

• To provide a comprehensive service to patients attending Beaumont Hospital for, ENT Head and neck oncology services, including appropriate clinical assessment and rehabilitation as required of both communication and swallowing disorders.
• To work closely with other SLTs also assigned to this clinical area.
• To contribute to the continued development of a person centred care environment with particular emphases on:
• The promotion of making interactions, documents and environments accessible for patients with regard to communication.
• The creation of the necessary conditions to ensure safe swallowing.
• To collaborate and liaise with all other Senior SLTs, for example, those in Neurosurgery, Radiation Oncology and medical oncology services to ensure a seamless and comprehensive service for patients with cancer.
• To work with patients post tracheostomy, laryngectomy and other surgical interventions and to maintain clinical competency in these and all areas related to this specialism.
• To maintain close liaison with all relevant personnel with regard to the care and management of patients.
• To develop and maintain the SLT service to assist the organisation to meet all relevant HIQA and other standards
• To develop and maintain expertise in the management of people living with long-term illness and disability and to ensure that professional standards are maintained.
• To provide SLT services across the whole service as cover if required.
• To be involved in VFSS clinics, FEES clinics and/or other instrumental assessment as appropriate. Training will be provided as required.
• To participate in the practice/clinical education of SLT students in collaboration with practice/clinical educators within the department
• To maintain and develop professional knowledge and practice in relation to adults with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties relating to oncology and ENT conditions, and in conjunction with other SLTs, to provide a service to patient groups as agreed with the SLT Manager.
• To promote and develop links with a range of local services as required.

Managerial Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the day to day operational management of the speech and language therapy service to the designated area.
• To be responsible for the supervision of SLT staff assigned to the area or in the wider SLT department if required.
• In consultation with the Speech & Language Therapist Manager and other relevant personnel, to participate and be involved in the planning and development of the service to ensure that it meets the needs of patients. This also includes the development of appropriate policies and procedures.
• To be involved in quality improvement to include involvement in the planning for the overall service, incorporating the setting and implementation of short and long term objectives.
• To engage in quality improvement that improves the SLT service offered to all patients who are referred to and attend the SLT service as a whole.
• To liaise with statutory, voluntary and other external agencies as appropriate.
• To deputise for the SLT Manager where appropriate and in rotation with other senior/clinical specialist SLTs within the department.

Educational Responsibilities

• To mentor/supervise staff grade SLTs and/or SLT Assistants as agreed with the SLT Manager.
• To engage in supervision with the SLT manager.
• Where appropriate, to provide general support to other SLT’s in the department and in other agencies with regard to the designated area of specialism.
• In conjunction with the co-ordination of students, to undertake clinical supervision as a practice educator of SLT students in conjunction with other SLTs within the department.
• To be actively involved in the education of all staff and other relevant people on ways to promote safe swallowing and on making interactions, documents and environments accessible for people with communication disability.
• To attend inservice and other training as appropriate.
• To maintain continuous professional development to meet the required professional body and Registration body standards.

Administrative Responsibilities

• To maintain patient records within HSE and departmental standards and to co-operate with data collection systems and current administrative procedures.
• To attend staff and all other relevant meetings.

Other Responsibilities

• To participate in Personal Development Planning, Professional Supervision, Peer Review and Quality Improvement.
• To adhere to health & safety, hygiene, infections control and other hospital guidelines.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the office as may be required by the Speech & Language Therapist Manager.

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

Mandatory:

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.
AND
(ii) Have 3 years full time (or an aggregate of 3 years full time) post qualification
clinical experience.
AND
(jii) 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 before a contract of employment can be
issued.

2. Annual registration
(i) On appointment, practitioners 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

Desirable:

1. Experience relevant to the clinical area
2. Membership of the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists