St. Joseph's Foundation is a voluntary organisation providing comprehensive services for adults with intellectual disabilities and children with complex needs. Founded in 1968 the Foundation has grown through continuously responding to the needs of people with disabilities and their families.
St. Joseph's Foundation is a lead agency for the North West Cork (CDNT 4) and the North East Cork (CDNT 5) Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs). These teams are based in Mallow and Fermoy and provide services for children 0-18 years presenting with complex needs, under the National Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Programme.
Applications are invited for the following post:
SENIOR SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST-PERMANENT 35hrs p/w*
CDNT 5 North East Cork (Fermoy Base)
* Part-time/Flexible arrangements may be considered depending on experience
As part of the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT5) North Cork East, a Senior Speech and Language Therapist is required to provide services within an interdisciplinary team model to children with complex needs. The location of the post is in Fermoy, Co. Cork.
* Candidates must be registered as a Speech and Language Therapist with CORU
* At least 3 years post-graduate experience
* Experience working with children with physical disability, intellectual disability and/or Autism is desirable.
* Attainment of dysphagia competencies is essential
Informal enquiries to Claire Mortell-SLT Manager on
Notes
* A full Irish/EU Driving Licence and indemnification of the Foundation on your car insurance policy is a requirement of the post.
* Panels of suitably qualified persons may be formed from which further SLT vacancies that arise within SJF may be filled.
* Closing date for application Friday 9th January 2026.
St. Joseph's Foundation is an equal opportunities employer.
Job Description
JOB TITLE: SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST (SENIOR)
REPORTS TO:
Children's Disability Network Manager (CDNM) & Speech and Language Therapy Manager (SLTM)
LIAISES WITH:
Interdisciplinary Team, Families, Schools, Staff of other statutory and voluntary organisations including primary and acute care
LOCATION:
Fermoy PHC, Mill Road, Fermoy, Co Cork
JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Speech and Language Therapy post is a key appointment in the development of a comprehensive/effective service for children with complex needs within the Children's Disability Network Team. He/she will contribute to and be responsible for providing quality speech and language therapy service provision, working as part of an Interdisciplinary Team in a Family Centred Practice Model.
Principal Duties And Responsibilities.
* Professional/Clinical
The Senior Speech and Language Therapist will:
* Demonstrate professional conduct and behaviours by adhering to legal, ethical and professional practice standards in all aspects of practice
* Be responsible for the maintenance of relevant standards for own practice and oversee standards of practice for staff under supervision
* Be responsible for managing and prioritising within own caseload and as part of the team
* Be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of intervention programmes according to service standards and in conjunction with families/carers, relevant staff and other services
* Be responsible for the day-to-day provision of SLT service within your allocated caseload area
* Promote positive staff morale and team working in conjunction with the line management system
* Foster and maintain professional working relationships with colleagues, front line managers, and other health and education personnel.
* Ensure the quality of documentation of all assessments, intervention plans, progress notes, reports and discharge summaries are in accordance with local service and professional policies procedures guidelines and standards
* Communicate verbally and / or in writing results of assessments, intervention programmes and recommendations to the team and relevant others in accordance with service policy, procedure and guidelines
* Participate in team working in an appropriate and professional manner, communicating and working in an integrated model including the service users and their families/carers, education staff and other relevant staff
* Attend clinics, review meetings, team meetings, case conferences, etc. as designated through the line management system
* Participate in the team assessment and diagnostic process of the allocated caseload
* Develop interventions based on assessment with consideration of the principles of family-centered practice
* Provide universal, targeted and intensive interventions on an individual, group and consultative basis
* Provide reports on outcomes
* Maintain files on service users in accordance with the record keeping policy
* Monitor and review the child and family's changing needs on an ongoing basis
* Represent the discipline/team at meetings and conferences as appropriate
* In conjunction with line management, help to identify, develop and implement policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines as required for clinical and operational best practice
* Adhere to existing and future policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines for the development and maintenance of standards/strategies for quality improvement and outcome measurement
* Ensure that professional standards are maintained in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation
* Operate within the scope of Speech and Language Therapy practice as set out by CORU and the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists including policy documents and competencies, and in accordance with the relevant policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines of St. Joseph's Foundation, and the policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines of the Children's Disability Network Teams
* Where a clinician is expected to work in the areas of Feeding, Eating, Drinking and/or Swallowing/Dysphagia, they must have the relevant competencies as recommended by the I.A.S.L.T. in Standards of Practice for Speech and Language Therapists on the Management of Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia).
* Actively engage in performance management systems within the relevant service
* Promote good team working, and a culture that values diversity
* To be fully aware of and compliant with current child protection and safeguarding legislation and local policies and procedures.
* Education and Training
The Senior Speech and Language Therapist will:
* Identify, in consultation with line management, own training needs and undertake training for the purpose of continued professional development
* Avail of and participate in professional supervision as agreed with the SLT Manager
* Be responsible for the development and application of advanced clinical knowledge and skills appropriate to the caseload
* Take a lead role in the team in supporting student Speech and Language Therapists as part of their clinical training, by providing placements in agreement with the line management system, and attend practice educator courses as appropriate
* Provide supervision for other Speech and Language Therapists within the policy, procedures, protocols and guidelines for the team and in agreement with the line management system
* Participate in mandatory training programmes
* Participate in continuing professional development including in-service training, attending and presenting at conferences/courses relevant to practice, contributing to research etc. as agreed through the line management system
* Develop and organise relevant training and teaching programmes for families, staff and others as required as agreed through the line management system
* Participate in research studies and projects relating to Paediatric Disability, as required.
* Health & Safety
The Senior Speech and Language Therapist will:
* Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and, in particular, to comply with employees' obligations as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as well as any related policies and procedures within St. Joseph's Foundation and the Children's Disability Network Team.
* Be aware of and implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards
* Actively participate in risk management issues, identify and manage risks and take responsibility for appropriate action
* Report any adverse incidents in accordance with organisational guidelines
* Be aware of and become familiar with fire drill procedures i.e. fire detection, evacuation and firefighting.
* Administrative
The Senior Speech and Language Therapist will:
* Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of service to their allocated caseload
* Review and allocate resources within the designated area, in collaboration with the line management system
* Promote good working practice and uniformity of standards of best practice encompassing evidence-based and family centered principles
* Promote quality by reviewing and evaluating regularly, the Speech and Language Therapy service within the team caseload, identifying changing needs and opportunities to improve services, in collaboration with the line management system and seeking feedback from service users
* Develop and implement service / business plans, quality initiatives, audits etc. and report on outcomes in collaboration with the line management system
* Optimize the use of available resources to achieve effective outcomes when planning and delivering a flexible service that meets the needs of service users
* Identify performance problems within the supervision structure, in a timely manner and communicate these to the line management system as appropriate to the identified issue
* Engage in service audit and demonstrate the achievement of service objectives as appropriate to areas of work
* Collect and evaluate data about the service user group and demonstrate the achievement of the objectives of the Speech and Language Therapy service
* Produce statistics on workload as requested through the line management system
* Oversee the upkeep of accurate records in line with best clinical governance, organisational requirements and the Freedom of Information Act
* Identify resource needs and participate in the ordering and control of clinical equipment.
* Deputise for SLT Manager as required
* Act in accordance with the ethos and policies and procedures of St. Joseph's Foundation
* Aim for the highest possible professional ethics and expertise
* Undertake any other duties assigned from time to time by the CEO
* All matters relating to the Service are confidential in nature. Respect of the confidential nature of all information conveyed either verbally or in writing during the course of work is expected.
* GENERAL
As the above is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities, this job description may be revised from time to time to take account of any change in requirements of the position or any other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Executive.
* CONFIDENTIALITY
In the course of your employment, you may have access to or hear information concerning the therapeutic, medical or personal affairs of clients or staff or other centres business. Such records and information are strictly confidential. In addition, records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them.