The Child and Family Agency was established on 1st January 2014 and is responsible for a range of statutory functions including provision of child protection, alternative care, specified regulatory services and a range of family support services.  The Agency has commenced a major improvement programme with significant focus on Practice, Culture and Structure.

The Agency currently has responsibility for a budget in excess of €800m and delivers its services through circa 5,000 people in 350 locations across the Country.

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Family Support
• Alternative Care
• Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

The person appointed to this post will work as part of the multidisciplinary team in the Assessment Consultation and Therapy Service delivering a clinical therapeutic service to young people and their families. ACTS is a multidisciplinary clinical service in the Child and Family Agency. The Speech and Language Therapist is a core member of the multi-disciplinary team which also includes Psychology, Social Work, Counsellors with expertise in addiction, and Social Care.

ACTS is a national specialised clinical service which provides multidisciplinary consultation, assessment and focused interventions to young people who have high risk behaviours associated with complex clinical needs. These therapeutic inputs are provided in a flexible, timely and responsive manner with a focus on improving outcomes for young people and their families.

ACTS also supports other professionals in their ongoing work with young people and their families. This includes on-site therapeutic services to the national special care units and the children detention schools consultation and focused intervention services in the community for children at risk of placement in special care or detention.

Under the Child and Family Act, 2013, the Child and Family Agency is now the dedicated state agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. The Agency operates under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth.

The purpose of the post is to provide a Speech and Language Therapy service to adolescents, as part of the multi-disciplinary team structure.

The Senior Speech and Language Therapist on each team is responsible for the organisation and delivery of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service within the ACTS team.

Clinically, within the team, the Senior Speech and Language Therapist is essential in terms of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders in the young people.  The Senior Speech and Language Therapist also provides broader input to the multidisciplinary team. The Senior Speech and Language Therapist plays a role in representing the team in consultations with other agencies and service providers in the community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Professional / Clinical

The Senior Speech & Language Therapist 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. Special Care or detention ) 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 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.
• Make it possible for service users to advocate for their own needs, or where appropriate advocate on behalf of service users and ensure that all interventions are in line with Tusla’s Child Participation Policy.
• Actively participate as a member of the ACTS service in team building and change management initiatives.
• Arrange and attend case conferences, meetings and other relevant forums as required.
• Attend court, tribunals etc as required.
• Work within current legislation, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols within TUSLA.
• Take direction from the Speech and Language Therapy Manager, Clinical Team Manager or the ACTS National Manager.
• Take an active role in an appropriate level of planned professional supervision, in accordance with the local/national Supervision Policy.
• Engage in reflective practice.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Keep the Speech and Language Therapy Manager and the Clinical Team Manager fully informed and up-to-date on all significant matters.
• Actively engage in 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 and case conferences etc. as appropriate.
• In conjunction with the Speech and Language Therapist Manager, clinical team manager and MDT 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.
• Participate in and develop activities which support health promotion.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the Speech & Language Therapist Manager or Clinical Team Manager.

Education and Training

The Senior Speech & Language Therapist 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 / supervision of others as appropriate.
• Avail of and participate in own supervision as per the supervision structure of the Speech & Language Therapy discipline within the service.
• Engage in planning and performance reviews, as required with the Speech and Language Therapist Manager and/or Clinical Team Manager.

Administrative

The Senior Speech & Language Therapist will, in consultation with the Speech and Language Therapist Manager:

• Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the Data Protection Act, GDPR.
• Maintain accurate up to date records and files and submit activity data as required.
• Write accurate, clear, concise and purposeful reports.
• Contribute to service developments by monitoring and evaluating emerging needs and trends in consultation with team members, Clinical Team Manager and the Speech and Language Therapy Manager.
• Collaborate with the Speech and Language Therapy Manager and Clinical Team Manager in developing the role of the Senior Speech and Language Therapist and the
• service e.g. through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research.
• 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.
• 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.
• Represent the department / profession / team at meetings and conferences as appropriate.
• Deputise for the Speech and Language Therapist Manager and Clinical Team 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.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service for example National Standards for Child Protection and Care and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above Job Description 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 him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

Be registered or be eligible for the registration, on the Speech & Language Therapists Register maintained by the Speech & Language Therapist Registration Board at CORU

AND

Have three years full time post qualification clinical experience with a minimum of one year working with children & young people.

AND

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

Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Speech & Language Therapists Register maintained by the Speech & Language Therapist Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.

Annual registration

On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Speech & Language Therapists Register maintained by the Speech & Language Therapists Registration at CORU

AND

Practitioner must confirm annual registration with CORU to TUSLA by way of the annual Patients Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)

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.