Speech and Language Therapy Manager - Adult Services Castlebar, Co. Mayo

At Western Care we aim to provide the most appropriate care, in the most appropriate setting for the people we support. And right now, we are looking to grow and support our team across County Mayo. Why not be part of a progressive team, that's delivering for its community. Western Care - Supporting People To Live Their Lives. Speech and Language Therapy Manager - Adult Services Castlebar, Co. Mayo Post Details Permanent 35 hours per week Reference Number 2025-259 Application Process Please apply with a current C.V. Closing Date - November 26th, 2025 For further enquiries, please contact Anita Hyland, Principal Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Lead Email : Additional Information Please note that panels may be formed from this competition to fill similar posts within the organisation. Job Brief Western Care Association is seeking a dynamic and experienced Speech & Language Therapy Manager to join our interdisciplinary team. This is a key leadership role with a focus on the development and delivery of high-quality Speech & Language Therapy services for Autistic adults and those with Intellectual Disability / complex needs. The key purpose of this role is to provide professional leadership, clinical governance, and strategic direction for the growing Speech and Language Therapy department. The successful candidate with oversee the planning and delivery of the Speech and Language Therapy Services / Department ensuring effective financial management and the most efficient use of available resources (financial & personnel). This is an exciting opportunity to join an established clinical team supporting people with diverse and complex needs. The growing team is comprised of Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Behaviour Support Specialists / Practitioners. We are seeking candidates who are highly motivated in working with people who have complex differences, skilled and knowledgeable about disability, can demonstrate experience of person-centered planning, working as part of an interdisciplinary clinical team and engaging in research in the disability field. Working as a Speech & Language Therapy manager, you will report to and be provided with supervision from the Clinical Lead. Continuous professional development is supported through allocation of time and budget to attend relevant training and external supervision. We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements, tailored to clinical needs and service delivery, to support our team's wellbeing and professional effectiveness. Please see further detail of the role and the Organisation's Clinical Team is outlined in Job Description below Other Duties Involved (Duties include, but are not limited to, the following) Contribute to and actively participate in the local service planning process, supporting the creative development and responding to the ongoing and changing needs of the service. Ensure a safe and respectful workplace, adhering to the organisation's Dignity at Work Policy and all Health & Safety requirements. Promote safety in all environments in line with the Association's practices and guidelines. Use positive and proactive approaches to support individuals who may present challenging behaviours, consistent with organisational policies and best practice. Other Requirements Full driver's license is essential. All applicants will be subject to Irish Garda Vetting and Reference checks. Applicants from countries outside the E.U. must provide relevant work authorization to take up employment in the Republic of Ireland. This documentation must be submitted with the application. Applicants who have lived outside of the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland for more than six months since the age of 18 will be required to provide Overseas Police Clearance. Salary Scale Speech & Language Therapy Manager Pay Scale € 73,800 - € 90,091 per annum -this is based on full time working hours i.e. 35 per week please note Western Care Association is part of pay restoration linked to the Department of Health and Children Consolidated Pay Scales. Employment Benefits Competitive Salary in line with Department of Health consolidated scales Premium payments, including anti-social hours payments on residential rosters. Pension and Life Insurance Scheme. Generous Annual Leave often exceeding statutory entitlement. Dedicated learning and opportunities for career progression Flexible working arrangements where feasible. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which includes counselling support. Bike-to-Work Scheme. Sick pay scheme. Health Applicants must be fully competent and capable of performing the duties of this role and be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of providing regular, reliable and efficient service JOB DESCRIPTION About Western Care Association & The Clinical Team Western Care exists to empower people with disabilities in Co. Mayo to live full and satisfied lives as equal citizens. As a person-centred service, the association places the person we support first. This drives the way services are organised, and how decisions are made. This also guides the way we deliver our clinical services. In adopting a neurodiversity affirmative approach, we recognise every person that we support as an individual with unique feelings and experiences. We recognise this immense value in diversity and seek to develop practices which are deep rooted in understanding neurodivergence and attuned to people's specific wants and needs. Why Join Us? Be part of a progressive, person-centered organisation in a local community committed to innovation and excellence. Work within a supportive MDT environment with opportunities for CPD and career progression. Contribute to meaningful change in the lives of people with disabilities. Excellent conditions including hybrid and flexible working arrangements. Role Western Care Association is seeking a dynamic and experienced Speech & Language Therapy Manager to join our interdisciplinary team. This is a key leadership role with a focus on the development and delivery of high-quality Speech & Language Therapy services for Autistic adults and those with Intellectual Disability / complex needs. The key purpose of this role is to provide professional leadership, clinical governance, and strategic direction for the growing Speech and Language Therapy department. The successful candidate with oversee the planning and delivery of the Speech and Language Therapy Services / Department ensuring effective financial management and the most efficient use of available resources (financial & personnel). This is an exciting opportunity to join an established clinical team supporting people with diverse and complex needs. The growing team is comprised of Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Behaviour Support Specialists / Practitioners. We are seeking candidates who are highly motivated in working with people who have complex differences, skilled and knowledgeable about disability, can demonstrate experience of person-centered planning, working as part of an interdisciplinary clinical team, and engaging in research in the disability field. Working as a Speech & Language Therapy manager, you will report to and be provided with supervision from the Clinical Lead. Continuous professional development is supported through allocation of time and budget to attend relevant training and external supervision. We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements, tailored to clinical needs and service delivery, to support our team's wellbeing and professional effectiveness. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Management Lead and manage the SLT team, ensuring high standards of clinical care. Support staff development through supervision, mentoring, and performance reviews. Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and relevant legislation e.g. FOI, GDPR. Ability to deal positively and constructively with obstacles / conflict. Collaboration with other discipline managers and frontline teams to ensure integrated service delivery. Management of service priorities including referral intake, caseload allocation, and clinical pathways. Clinical Governance & Quality Improvement Ensure compliance with CORU registration and professional standards. Create Speech and Language therapy caseload management systems across the service. Build and communicate an understanding of the role and contribution of Speech and Language Therapy within the organisation, ensuring a clear pathway for service users. Continuously evaluates the standards of quality and efficiency and strives to find ways to improve standards of care. Embraces and promotes change - plans strategically to drive change / make improvements to service delivery. Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitor risks. Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards relevant to the role. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines. Monitor service outcomes. Contribute to strategic planning and quality improvement initiatives. Service Development Lead initiatives to improve access, equity, and quality of SLT services. Participate in transformation programmes aligned with national disability strategies. Foster a learning culture amongst staff and colleagues to drive continuous improvement in services to patients. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Work closely with Primary Care, AMHS, and other services to support holistic care. Participate in case conferences, team meetings, and service planning forums. 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. Candidate Requirements Essential Requirements Statutory CORU registration as a Speech and Language Therapist, or eligibility for registration, with proof of registration required before a contract of employment is issued. Minimum 5 years post-qualification clinical experience. The knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) to carry out the duties of SLT manager. Experience working in disability services or with people with complex needs. A professional, empathetic, and patient-centred approach to care. Proven leadership and team management skills. Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to foster positive working relationships, sensitivity, empathy, diplomacy and tact in dealing with others. Excellent organisation skills, a team worker with good time management skills. Strong understanding of national disability policy and service models. Ability to work independently. Must be eligible to work within the EU. Full clean driving license and access to own transport. Desirable Experience in service development or quality improvement initiatives. Demonstrated depth and breadth of experience in the provision of Speech and Language Therapy Services, as relevant to the role, including relevant management experience (staff leadership, implementing change and service improvements). Demonstrate depth and breadth of leadership skills as relevant to the role. Postgraduate qualifications in management or clinical specialism. Other Requirements Full driver's license is essential. Candidates must hold a full clean driving license. Have access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role. Participate in an on-call rota as required. All applicants will be subject to Irish Garda Vetting & Reference checks. All applicants from Countries outside the E.U. will be required to provide relevant work authorization to take up employment in Republic of Ireland. This must be submitted along with application. All applicants will be required to access Overseas Police Clearance if they have lived outside of the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland more than 6 months since the age of 18 years. Working Relationships and Communication Understand and operate all relevant local and organisational procedure, directives and general information made available through the line manager. Develop and contribute to good working relationships in the Organisation and with all other relevant personnel. Report to and appraise line manager or designate of all work-related issues and difficulties. Follow the Association's Grievance and Disciplinary Procedure, available in the Association's Staff Handbook. Act in a confidential manner when dealing with personal information relating to persons we support, families and staff. Attend and actively participate in staff meetings. Actively participate in supervisory support as per Organisation Procedure. General Promote and develop good community networks which support inclusion and integration to the people we support. Promote a positive image and name of the Association in the wider community. Be accountable and responsible for input into service planning and delivery, together with job performance as per role within the Association. Promote dignity at work and show respect to the people we support, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty. Attend staff training events as required and implement learning in the workplace. Perform any other appropriate duties as requested by the person in charge. Conditions The Job Description forms an integral part of the Contract of Employment, together with the Association's Policies and Procedures. Flexibility in working hours may be a feature of this position, to meet the needs of the department. To engage with and use the technology systems and packages provided by the Association to support day to day work and future planning needs. You will receive support and supervision from your line manager regarding your day-to-day work through the Supervisory Support Process in place in the Association. Initial Base : Castlebar, Co. Mayo Working Hours : 35 hours per week including flexibility Probation : A probationary period of six months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer's discretion. 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