As part of our advocacy role for both service users and Speech and Language Therapists IASLT is delighted to seek expressions of interest from members to establish a working group to develop a position paper focusing on Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia/Childhood Apraxia of Speech.   The position paper will be informed by consultations with key stakeholders, in addition to reviewing relevant research literature, policy documents and strategies.  The scope of this paper will include exploring the services available for children with verbal dyspraxia in Ireland as well as the gaps in those services.   If you interested in getting involved and contributing to best practice in the identification and diagnosis of Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia to ensure more appropriate service provision for those with DVD please complete the attached nomination form and return it to professionaldevelopment@iaslt.ie by Friday 28th May 2021.   

I am a PhD student based in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). We are conducting a study to explore the experiences that adults with cerebral palsy have of adult health services in Ireland. The study is approved by the RCSI research ethics committee and Central Remedial Clinic (CRC).   We are looking for speech and language therapist with experience of seeing adults with cerebral palsy in Ireland to share their experience of services delivered for an hour via video or telephone call. The findings will help form recommendations on how to improve health services for adults with cerebral palsy.  For more information about the study, please visit our study website below or attached participant information leaflet. www.theeachstudy.com   We would be grateful if you could consider sharing the study on your newsletter or website or social media platforms to enable us to reach out as far and wide as possible to get wider speech and language therapist perspectives.   Many thanks in advance for your consideration.   Kind regards Manjula Manikandan MSc SPHeRE II PhD scholar  

Supporting Emotions with Aphasia: Interdisciplinary perspectives Are you a Speech & Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Clinical Psychologist or Neuropsychologist working with people with aphasia in a publicly-funded organisation? If so, please join us on Friday June 11th to hear interdisciplinary perspectives on “Supporting Emotions with Aphasia” from clinical practice and aphasia research. This webinar is the first of a series of educational events on the topic of "Supporting Emotions with Aphasia" as part of a project supported by funding from the National HSCP Office following a submission by IASLT and AOTI.  The overall project will include webinars and discipline-specific training (e.g. strategies on how to facilitate emotional conversations with people with aphasia), with the aim of developing an inclusive and interdisciplinary community of practice to provide professional support and to explore ideas for “Supporting Emotions with Aphasia” in clinical practice.  To watch a short video for more information, click here.   Learning Objectives: Having attended webinar events, participants will be able to: - Describe the research context and evidence around empirical need for emotional support among people with post-stroke aphasia and other communication impairments; their families, including children, and a documented lack of access to communicatively accessible support in Ireland and elsewhere. - Understand and learn from a range of disciplinary perspectives on current and ideal service provision in a safe and shared forum. - Learn about the perspectives of people living with post-stroke aphasia and other communication impairments around the importance of overcoming and managing negative emotional responses as part of learning to live well with their condition; the support needs of their families; and barriers and experiences of accessing relevant support in Ireland. - Hear from interdisciplinary researchers relating to novel evidence-based treatment approaches that have been adapted in the context of communication impairment. - Understand the principles of, and rationale for supported conversation training for mental health professionals. - Learn the principles of, and experiences of teams involved in joint working in the provision of psychosocial support for people with post-stroke communication impairment. - Learn about opportunities for becoming part of a Community of Practice and benefitting from further collaborative and training events that we are planning.   Speakers include:  Aoife Carolan: Senior Speech & Language Therapist with special clinical interest in Aphasia and acquired communication difficulties. Aoife has 14 years clinical experience working with adults living with Aphasia (and families) in acute and community settings. She is an experienced clinical practice educator, and is an active IASLT representative on the Irish Heart Foundation Council On Stroke.  Aoife is currently advising on, and creating new online content relating to acquired communication and swallowing difficulties for the Irish Heart Foundation and IASLT National Web Committee. Aoife will provide an overview of the SEA initiative and will reflect on clinically identified gaps regarding available emotional supports for people living with Aphasia.   Dr. Brian McClean: Principal Clinical Psychologist, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Brian qualified as Clinical Psychologist in 1987. In 1994 he founded the Callan Institute for Behavioural Support and developed it as a national consultation and training agency in biopsychosocial interventions. As Principal Clinical Psychologist with ABI Ireland, he provides Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Based Behaviour Support. Brian will discuss working with people with aphasia who have emotional needs and how to support recovery, resilience and reconfiguration using either communication-based or non-communication based therapies.   Libby Cunningham: Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Stroke, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Libby has 18+ years’ experience working in stroke rehabilitation in Australia and Ireland. As Ireland’s first Clinical Specialist OT in stroke, Libby has been working in acute stroke care and early supported discharge for 14+ years. She developed and published the 1st screening tool for extra-personal neglect and is currently developing an early supported discharge satisfaction survey with user involvement. Libby represents the AOTI on the Irish Heart Foundation Council On Stroke and the HSE National Stroke Programme. Libby will reflect on her clinical experiences working with people with aphasia post-stroke.   Dr Molly Manning: Lecturer on the MSc Speech & Language Therapy, University of Limerick. Molly’s PhD research explored how best to optimise stroke care for people with aphasia. Her current focus is on implementing her research findings into policy and practice, alongside clinicians, Irish and international research collaborators, and aphasia experts by experience. Molly is an active IASLT representative on the Irish Heart Foundation Council On Stroke and has advised on IASLT vision and strategy planning.  Molly will present on the SEA research context and the need for improved access to emotional support for people living with aphasia in Ireland.   Dr Brooke Ryan: Senior Speech & Language Pathologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Queensland and Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Aphasia Recovery & Rehabilitation, Australia. Brooke’s research interests span the identification and treatment of depression and anxiety following aphasia. Brooke has published in the areas of low mood and anxiety after stroke and has codeveloped an early intervention program Aphasia Ask aimed to prevent depression. Brooke will provide an introduction into psychological care for people with aphasia and evidence to support treatment.   Date: 11th June 2021 Time: 12-1.45pm Fees: €5 (supported by funding from the National HSCP Office)    TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE  

Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG (Incorporating the Young Knocknaheeny Area Based Childhood Programme)  Oral Language Development Officer (Fixed-term Contract) 1 Full-time Basic Grade post available   Employer:                   Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG. Location:                    Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG premises in Knocknaheeny or                                      nominated location. The Oral Language Development Officer will be assigned a base location                                     but will be expected to work across the Young Knocknaheeny geographical area, in homes                                     and in community settings. COVID restrictions may apply. Contract:                    A fixed-term period to 31st December 2021. A probationary period of 3 months will apply. Hours of work:          37 hours per week. Occasional out of hours working may be required for which a time off in                                      lieu system is in operation. Salary:                         €35,672 per annum being Point 1 on the pay scale. It is Company policy that new employees                                      are appointed at Point 1 of their respective scales. Recruitment:              Open recruitment adhering to the Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG                                      recruitment policy.   The successful candidate must hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes, or have access to a reliable form of transport that would enable them to fully meet the requirements of this role.   Background Incorporating the Young Knocknaheeny Area Based Childhood Programme, the main objective of Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG is to govern, support and develop area based prevention and early intervention programming and approaches that support early childhood development, relationships and environments; to set the foundations for infant and child development, learning, wellbeing, quality of life and outcomes; and by doing so mitigate the intergenerational impact of child poverty. The subsidiary objectives are: Respectfully enhancing skills and early childhood development knowledge, of all parents, practitioners and services; Strengthening and supporting all relationships and environments that are important to every child’s early development; Embedding systems and community change to support early childhood development Undertaking participatory learning and evaluation, documenting and policy development.   This work is underpinned by an innovative Infant Mental Health Framework and draws on best international evidence and practice. The core work of Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and is part of the Area Based Childhood Programme within the TUSLA Child & Family Agency.   Our Vision Our communities are places where children experience happy, healthy and thriving childhoods that last a lifetime and no child is left behind.   Our Mission To work in partnership with everyone important in children’s lives, sharing knowledge, skills and resources, empowering families and enabling children through their relationships and in their communities to be nurtured, fulfilled, achieving and learning.   Job Purpose The Oral Language Development Officer will work as part of the wider interdisciplinary team delivering on the programme of work in the community. Using an Infant Mental Health Framework, the Oral Language Development Officer will establish and build trusting relationships with families and communities right from the start, beginning with expectant parents and caregivers and following through key developmental stages of the infant, toddler’s and young child’s early life. He/she will provide evidence based oral language development services, with a focus on promotion, prevention and early intervention,  to enhance capacity of parents/caregivers, practitioners, and organisations across the community and ensure that every child can have the best possible start in life. The aim of this service is to support and improve early speech, language, communication and literacy development in the context of holistic child development and family wellbeing. The community oral language development strategy builds on the NICHE pilot project (2009 to 2013), incorporates the learning from other community based projects locally/nationally and fits within the overall Company implementation plan.   Job Description To implement an evidence-based promotion, prevention and early intervention oral language development service, in partnership with families and services across the community; that supports a tiered model of service provision across the community with a particular focus on universal targeted services. Focusing on the prebirth-6 age group, the Oral Language Development Officer will connect with children and all those involved in the life of the child, including  families, practitioners and services, to motivate and impart knowledge and inspiration to others to engage in the programme. He/she will work closely with families to support and strengthen parental capacity to facilitate their children’s early speech, language, communication and literacy development. He/she will work to build parents’ and caregivers’ own self-esteem and abilities to engage with services, peers and their communities around them. The Oral Language Development Officer will meet and support families, parents and caregivers, in their homes and within community settings. As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, the Oral Language Development Officer will be expected to contribute to team meetings, discussions, processes, collaborative and individual actions. With their colleagues, he/she will be required to be a key player in the development of the Programme and contribute to team work and collaboration. He/she will also be expected to network with wider stakeholders and contribute to the overall community development and enhancement taking place locally. The Oral Language Development Officer will contribute to research, participate in data collection and evaluation processes to inform policy and practice and contribute to the evidence base of the work. He/she will be supported to develop their skills and competencies in an Infant Mental Health Framework, through which they will deliver evidence informed programmes and approaches in partnership with families, interagency partners and the wider community. She/he will provide training, coaching, mentoring, intervention and facilitate links to mainstream services that enhance and enrich language development for all children and their families. They will collaborate closely with health services, early education settings and primary schools in the area.   Reporting Structure The Oral Language Development Officer Basic Grade will report to the Senior Grade Officer. Attendance at HSE S&L Department team meetings will be required.   Person Specification The Oral Language Development Officer will possess a commitment to the values of the organisation which are: Inclusivity, Respect, Empathy, Integrity, Openness, Collaboration, and Good Governance. He/she will also possess a commitment to area based promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches to service delivery, to social change and antipoverty strategies. He/she will be open to learning, transferring knowledge, mentoring and support, in areas of child development such as Infant Mental Health practice, early education and prosocial behaviour. He/she will be self-motivated. They will show dedication and enthusiasm for the work and the values of practice. They must be flexible, open to change and the developing and transforming nature of work. They must be a positive, constructive, supportive team member. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, undertaking other duties as assigned from time to time is expected. He/she will have the capacity to reflect and be reflective in their work. He/she will be open to training, reflective practice supervision and ongoing professional development. He/she will have knowledge of the geographical area, including strengths, assets, capacity, as well as the needs of communities, families, services, groups and organisations. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and experience working within an interdisciplinary team and/or differing inter-sectoral arrangements. He/she will be able to represent the organisation externally in a professional manner. He/she must enjoy working with local families, practitioners and wider services in a community setting. The successful candidate will take a professional approach to assessments, record keeping, data protection, health and safety, and adhere to all relevant policies and procedures. He/she will have proven ability to maintain a family case-load, facilitate groups in the community, provide training and coaching for families, practitioners and services, work in partnership with other services and disciplines, participate in and lead information sharing, education opportunities and events. They will also be expected to share learning and development with their colleagues.   Qualifications The successful candidate must hold a BSc Speech & Language Therapy from University College Cork OR validated equivalent. The successful candidate must be eligible for registration with CORU. They must also be a member of the Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists. It would be highly desirable that candidates have completed Hanen training.   Experience The successful candidate will have experience of supporting vulnerable families and disadvantaged communities including an understanding of educational disadvantage; working within an interdisciplinary team; delivering evidence-based oral language development programmes; case management and record keeping including data protection.   Essential Knowledge Sound knowledge of key areas in early child speech, language, communication and literacy development, including parent-infant/toddler relationship development. Knowledge of evidence informed practice that improves outcomes for children. Familiarity with area-based prevention, promotion and early intervention programming with similar objectives. Knowledge of community development, community networks and accessing resources.   Skills He/she will have the skills to work from a strengths-based, relational approach with families and caregivers. He/she will have established observation and assessment skills. He/she will have strong communication skills, particularly an ability to communicate effectively with and on behalf of parents, caregivers infants and toddlers, colleagues and interagency partners. He/she will have an established capacity to reflect, good listening and motivational skills. He/she will be highly organised, have IT competency and reporting skills. He/she will be resourceful and creative. He/she will have the ability to provide input into research and evaluation. For the successful candidate, this post represents a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic interdisciplinary team implementing a programme of work, which aims to improve outcomes for children in the area, connecting with families, the community, with other service providers, contributing to the development of prevention and early intervention work.     Application Process Please apply by email to info@letsgrowtogether.ie with a CV and cover letter that clearly sets out your interest along with your qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the role. The closing date for receipt of all applications is 12 midday on Thursday 20th May 2021 (no late applications will be accepted). It is anticipated that interviews for candidates shortlisted for this post will take place on 27th May 2021 with the successful candidate taking up the role as soon as possible. Shortlisting will apply. This post is subject to Garda Vetting and reference checks.   Informal enquiries by email only to grace@letsgrowtogether.ie   Canvassing will disqualify.   Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusion