Senior Speech and Language Therapist in Oncology Temporary Post

Position Summary:

There is a specified purpose senior vacancy currently in the area of medical oncology. Initial time frame of this post is 6 months.

This senior Speech & Language Therapist has responsibility for the management and development of the Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service to medical oncology. The post will involve working with people with both communication and swallowing difficulties. The successful candidate will work with inpatient and outpatient caseloads across a number of clinical areas and oncology diagnoses.

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. Training for specific clinical skills relating to these clinical areas will be provided if required by the successful candidate. Beaumont Hospital is proud of its reputation nationally and internationally as an academic teaching hospital providing excellence in patient care medical education innovation and research. The successful candidate will work within the MDT and as part of the Beaumont Cancer services which aims to provide the very best cancer service to our patients by combining first class clinical care with ground-breaking research and high quality education and training. As a cancer centre there is a requirement for a concentration of staff with specialist expertise in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This ensures a multidisciplinary approach a significant number of new patients on treatment and the availability of necessary supports to achieve the best 2022 Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre was accredited by the Organisation of European Cancer Centres (OECI) and designated OECI Cancer Centre status

Responsible to

The post holders will be responsible to the Speech and Language Therapist Manager Beaumont Hospital.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Responsibilities:

o To provide a comprehensive service to patients attending Beaumont Hospital for medical oncology services including appropriate clinical assessment and rehabilitation as required of both communication and swallowing disorders.
o To work closely with other SLTs also assigned to this clinical area.
o To develop and maintain competency in the required clinical areas including tracheostomy management.
o 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.
o To collaborate and liaise with all other Senior SLTs for example those in Neurosurgery and Head and Neck Oncology services to ensure a seamless and comprehensive service for patients with cancer.
o To maintain close liaison with all relevant personnel with regard to the care and management of patients.
o To develop and maintain the SLT service to assist the organisation to meet all relevant HIQA and other standards
o 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.
o To provide SLT services across the whole service as cover if required.
o To be involved in VFSS/FEES clinics and/or other instrumental assessment as appropriate. Training will be provided as required.
o To participate in the practice/clinical education of SLT students in collaboration with practice/clinical educators within the department
o To maintain and develop professional knowledge and practice in relation to adults with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties relating to medical oncology conditions and in conjunction with other SLTs to provide a service to patient groups as agreed with the SLT Manager.
o To promote and develop links with a range of local services as required.

Managerial Responsibilities

o To be responsible for the day to day operational management of the speech and language therapy service to the designated area.
o To be responsible for the supervision of SLT staff assigned to the area or in the wider SLT department if required.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o To liaise with statutory voluntary and other external agencies as appropriate.
o To deputise for the SLT Manager where appropriate and in rotation with other senior/clinical specialist SLTs within the department.

Educational Responsibilities

o To mentor/supervise staff grade SLTs and/or SLT Assistants as agreed with the SLT Manager.
o To engage in supervision with the SLT manager.
o Where appropriate to provide general support to other SLTs in the department and in other agencies with regard to the designated area of specialism.
o 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.
o 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.
o To attend inservice training as appropriate.
o To be involved in research projects as appropriate.
o To maintain continuous professional development to meet the required professional body and Registration body standards.

Administrative Responsibilities

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

Other Responsibilities

o To participate in Personal Development Planning Professional Supervision Peer Review and Quality Improvement.
o To adhere to health & safety hygiene infections control and other hospital guidelines.
o 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. Registration with the Speech & Language Therapists registration board with CORU
2. At least 3 years experience of working as an SLT.

Desirable

1. Experience relevant to the clinical area
2. Knowledge of the Irish Healthcare system
3. Membership of the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists
4. Experience in instrumental assessment procedures (Videofluroscopy and FEES)

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name: Anne Healy
Title: Speech & Language Therapy Manager
Email address:
Telephone: (01)