The Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) Manager will be responsible for the strategic, operational and professional leadership and management of the SLT department in the delivery of a high quality, patient centred service across the hospital.  The department provides a service to all patients presenting with communication and feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing (FEDS) difficulties in the acute setting. A videofluoroscopy service is also provided.   

The post holder will report to the Director of Clinical Services.

Informal Enquiries: Louise Collins, Director of Clinical Services at louise.collins4@hse.ie or  01 646 5843

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

The CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles that should be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice. The Code outlines the standards that should 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.

The CPSA Code of Practice can be accessed via https://www.cpsa.ie/.

The RCSI Hospital Group includes the following hospitals: 

• Beaumont Hospital
• Cavan General Hospital
• Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown
• Louth County Hospital
• Monaghan General Hospital
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
• Rotunda Hospital
• The Academic Partner for the Group is the RCSI

RCSI Hospital Group provides a national service and a regional service to Dublin and the North East and is committed to the provision of world-class care, exceptional clinical services with respect and compassion.

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown is a major teaching hospital providing a range of acute medical and surgical services, day care, outpatient, diagnostic and support services.  Emergency services are provided on a 365-day, 24 hour basis.  Multi-disciplinary teams representative of medical, nursing, allied health professionals, management and general support staff play a pivotal role in the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of these services.  The hospital has a current bed complement of >300 beds.

The hospital is affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) for medical education, to Dublin City University (DCU) for nursing education and to University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the Institute of Technology for allied health professional education.

Connolly Hospital is one of 8 hospitals in the RCSI Hospitals Group covering a population of over 800,000 people.  Connolly Hospital’s Catchment Population of over 331,000 covers Dublin West, North Kildare and South Meath.

The Speech & Language Therapist Manager will:

Professional / Clinical

• Provide strategic, clinical and professional leadership in the delivery of a high quality SLT service
• Be responsible for the overall management and performance of SLT activity, ensuring services are delivered in line with national policy directives and priorities.
• Ensure professional standards are maintained in accordance with the requirements as set out by CORU https://www.coru.ie/files-education/sltrb-standards-of-proficiency-for-speech-and-language-therapists.pdf
• Retain a clinical remit as required.
• Ensure the implementation of best practice SLT needs assessments and that an appropriate range of interventions are in place to meet the needs of patients within the acute setting.
• Work as a member of multidisciplinary teams; initiate and / or participate in departmental and multidisciplinary initiatives to enhance the standard of care to clients.
• Establish standards and best practice guidelines to provide a quality driven service through the development and implementation of, for example, care pathways, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with other Heads of Service, professionals, specialist services, community and voluntary organisations to provide integrated quality care to service users.
• Demonstrate a research focus to enhance service development and delivery.

Education & Training

• Oversee the implementation of appropriate induction and probationary systems.
• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives.
• Promote staff continuous professional development by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, research, training and in-service needs of SLT staff members.
• Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of SLT colleagues, other health professionals and client groups as required.
• Co-ordinate the development of SLT resources and teaching materials.
• Facilitate supervision, CPD and PDP for staff.
• Be responsible for the practice education of SLT students through provision of placements and through support for SLTs who are practice educators within their departments.
•  

Quality and Risk, Health and Safety Management

• Be responsible for all aspects of staff and patient safety within the SLT service.
• Be responsible for clinical audit and risk management within the SLT service, including adequately identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring risk.
• Participate with any internal or external evaluation of the SLT service.
• Conduct periodic risk assessment and safety evaluations of facilities and work practices.
• 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.

Management

• Play a significant role in aligning the SLT service with the organisation’s strategies, initiatives and health promotion projects.
• Be responsible for the strategic and operational management, delivery and evaluation of the SLT service.
• Collaborate with relevant personnel to produce Operational Plans for the SLT service.
• Manage the effective and efficient delivery of a people centred service within allocated resources.
• Monitor and review the operational functioning of the SLT service in the assigned area, with a view to maximising quality.
• Assist in change management of the SLT service as required.
• Record, analyse and evaluate indicators such as activity levels, service trends, work practices etc. and submit findings to inform service planning and development.
• Manage the SLT team in a transparent and equitable manner including the provision of staff guidance and supervision and participating in recruitment initiatives as required.
• Ensure the SLT service complies with relevant HR and other policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines, Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and GDPR.
• Demonstrate pro-active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders.
• Keep updated on current and impending legislation and the perceived impact on practice.

Confidentiality: In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff or other health services’ business. Such records and information are strictly confidential, unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty.  In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

The above Job Specification 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 them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

(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 5 years full time (or an aggregate of 5 years full time) post qualification clinical experience.

                                         AND

(jii) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management, leadership 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.

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). 

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.

Character

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

Technical and Professional Expertise

Has a command over the technical/ professional skills and knowledge required within the job holder’s role and continues to upskill to maintain high professional standards and continuous professional development requirements.

Resource Management

Manages and utilises the organisation’s resources in the most effective manner to maximise the value for money proposition and to identify costs savings where possible.

Leadership & Management

Manages performance to deliver team goals; demonstrates accountability for leading, directing, monitoring and evaluating RCSI Hospital Group services. Creates a climate in which people want to do their best. Promotes confidence and positive attitude; influences others to follow a common goal.

Commitment to Quality & Risk Management

The ability to focus on understanding stakeholder’s needs and expectations and to respond effectively and efficiently to them.  Has a good knowledge of and is committed to offer a quality service through the achievement of goals, accreditation standards other organisation/department standards and risk management frameworks and guidelines

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Identifies and solves problems by understanding the situation, seeking additional information, developing and weighing alternatives, and choosing the most appropriate course of action given the circumstance. 

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Speaks and writes clearly, fluently and effectively to both individuals and groups; communicates in a manner that will persuade, convince and influence others, in order to motivate, inspire or encourage them to follow a particular course of action.

This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.

The RCSI Hospital Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer.