Speech & Language Therapist: Senior
Job Specification, Terms & Conditions
Job Title, Grade
Speech and Language Therapist: Senior (Grade Code 3379)
Competition
Reference
Closing Date
NRS0226
Proposed Interview
Date(s)
Taking up
Appointment
Location of Post
Week commencing 29th November 2010
Organisational
Area
 HSE South
 HSE West
 HSE Dublin North East
 HSE Dublin Mid Leinster
The person appointed to this post will work within the Integrated Services Directorate;
working as part of multi-disciplinary teams delivering a coordinated approach to client care.
S/he will be required to work as a key worker for particular cases.
Details of Service
Friday 29th October 2010 12.00 noon
Start date is to be agreed at job offer stage.
The location of the post is to be confirmed at job offer stage.
Further post specific information will be provided to candidates at the ‘expression of interest’
stage of the recruitment process.
Reporting
Relationship
Your professional reporting relationship for clinical governance and clinical supervision will
be to the Head of Discipline.
Until such time as arrangements have been finalised on a system for the management of
the day to day operation of teams within the Integrated Services Directorate, existing
reporting relationships to the Head of Discipline will continue.
Purpose of the
Post
Principal Duties
and
Responsibilities
To provide a quality Speech & Language Therapist Service. To work with the Speech and
Language Therapist Manager in co-ordinating the service to meet the needs of the service
user and the objectives of the organisation. To support and supervise students and staff as
designated and promote continuing professional development.
Professional / Clinical
The Speech & Language Therapist: Senior will:
 Be responsible for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation
of treatment / intervention programmes for service users according to professional
standards
 Be able to make highly specialist clinical decisions following assessment of complex
cases
 Arrange and carry out assessment and treatment / intervention programmes in
appropriate settings (e.g. clinic, home, school, day centre) in line with local policy /
guidelines
 Communicate results of assessments and recommendations to the service user
and relevant others as appropriate
 Document all assessments, diagnoses, treatment / intervention plans, clinical notes,
relevant contacts and summaries in accordance with department and professional
standards
 Collaborate with service user, family, carers and other staff in goal setting and
treatment / intervention planning
 Provide clinical leadership in the day-to-day running of the service by supporting
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Speech & Language Therapist: National Supplementary Recruitment Campaign NRS0226
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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
Participate in teams as appropriate, communicating and working in collaboration
with the service user and other team members as part of an integrated package of
care
Attend clinics and participate in relevant meetings, case conferences and ward
rounds as appropriate
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
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
The Speech & Language Therapist: Senior will:
 Participate in mandatory and recommended training programmes in accordance
with departmental/organisational guidelines
 Maintain and develop 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
Health & Safety
The Speech & Language Therapist: Senior will:
 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
 Comply with department procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation
and / or manufacturing of all assistive devices
 Promote a culture that values diversity and respect
Administrative
The Speech & Language Therapist: Senior will, in consultation with the Speech and
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Language Therapist Manager:
 Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of service in designated area(s)
 Ensure good working practice and adherence to standards of best practice
 Promote quality by reviewing and evaluating the Speech & Language Therapy
service, identifying 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 and the Freedom of Information Act, and provide
reports and other information / statistics as required
 Engage in service audit and demonstrate the achievement of the service objectives
 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
Candidates must, on the closing date possess:
Eligibility Criteria,
Qualifications and/
or experience
(a)
(i) the B. Sc degree (Clinical Speech and Language Studies) from the University of
Dublin
OR
(ii) the BA (Moderatorship)(Remedial Linguistics) from the University of Dublin
OR
(iii) the M.SC in Speech & Language Therapy (Professional Qualification) from the
University of Limerick
OR
(iv) Licentiateship from the College of Speech Therapists
OR
(v) A validated Speech & Language qualification at least equivalent to (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv) above**
(b) have at least three years satisfactory post qualification experience
(c) a suitable standard of professional attainments
(d) the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and ability) for
the proper discharge of the duties of the office
**Please note a Speech & Language Therapy qualification from National University of
Ireland, Galway and University College Cork is a recognised qualification.
Health
A candidate 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
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new
entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate
who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
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Adult Acquired (including older persons)
Post Specific
Requirements,
additional
qualifications and /
or experience
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Ability to assess and manage communication and feeding, eating, drinking and
swallowing disorders in the adult population as it applies to the post
Experience in conducting, interpreting and reporting instrumental swallowing
assessments e.g. videofluoroscopic swallow studies and/or FEES (fibre optic
endoscopic evaluation of swallowing)
In-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of specialism as it applies to the
post
Speech & Language Therapists who work with people with feeding, eating, drinking
and swallowing difficulties must hold a dysphagia qualification or equivalent 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) 2007
Mental Health Services [Child & Adult]
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Knowledge of the major psychiatric disorders and their clinical symptomatology and
course
Understanding of the inter-play between communication difficulties and Mental
Health disorders
Familiarity with conditions associated with this client group such as drug and
alcohol abuse, self-injury and eating disorders
Understanding of the role of the Speech and Language Therapist in behaviour
management
Experience in addressing social communication impairments
Paediatrics
 In-depth knowledge of a wide range of paediatric communication disorders and their
clinical symptomatology and course
 Ability to take a population health approach to service planning and delivery in
conjunction with the Speech and Therapy Language Manager
Disabilities ID and/or ASD. This covers paediatric and adult services.
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In-depth knowledge of intellectual disability and autistic spectrum disorders and
their clinical symptomatology and course
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An understanding of the interplay between communication difficulties in intellectual
disability and/or autistic spectrum disorders across the lifespan
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Awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of disability throughout the lifespan of the
service user and their family
Physical & Sensory Disabilities, e.g. SSLI, physical disability, hearing impairment,
cleft lip and palate, fluency disorders, voice disorders. Please note that this is not an
exhaustive list
 In-depth knowledge of communication impairments associated with physical and
sensory disabilities; their clinical symptomatology and course
 An understanding of the interplay between communication difficulties and physical and
sensory disability across the lifespan
 An awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of physical and sensory disability
throughout the lifespan of the service user and their family.
Other
requirements
specific to the post
None
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Skills,
competencies
and/or knowledge
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Competition
Specific Selection
Process
Ranking /
Shortlisting /
Interview
Code of Practice
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
A ranking exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your
application form. The criteria for ranking 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 being
called forward 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.
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 Code of
Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be
applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on
candidates, feedback facilities for candidates on matters relating to their application, when
requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment
and selection process, and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of
Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document
posted with each vacancy entitled “Code Of Practice, Information For Candidates”.
Codes of Practice are published by the CPSA and are available on
www.careersinhealthcare.ie in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of
Practice, Information For Candidates” or on www.cpsa-online.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change
the job description may be reviewed.
This job description 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.
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Speech & Language Therapist: National Supplementary Recruitment Campaign NRS0226
Senior Speech & Language Therapist
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Tenure
The appointment is pensionable. Whole Time hours are to be confirmed at job offer stage.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act
2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration
The Salary scale for the post is:
Euro €50,134 – 51,224 – 52,348 – 53,462 – 54,577 – 55,750 – 56,986 – 58,219 – 59,208
(as per 01.01.10)
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: 35 hours as per Circular 005/2009
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended
Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of
Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff
appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster
/ on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are
liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the
requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework
Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the post is: 29 days as per Circular 005/2009
Superannuation
Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this appointment.
Existing Members who transferred to the HSE on 1st January 2005 pursuant to Section
60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE
Scheme which are no less favourable to those to which they were entitled at 31st
December 2004.
Appointees to posts in the Mental Health Services which formerly attracted fast accrual
of service should note that the terms of Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act 1945 do
not apply to New Entrant Public Servants as defined by Section 12 of the Public Service
Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.
Probation
Every appointment of a person who is not already an officer of the Health Service
Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months
as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
Protection of
Persons
Reporting Child
Abuse Act 1998
This post is one of those designated in accordance with Section 2 of the Protection of
Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998. You will remain a designated officer for the
duration of your appointment in this post or for the duration of your appointment to such
other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. Such
officers will, on receiving a report of child abuse, formally notify the Senior Social Worker
in the community care area in which the child is living.
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