IASLT biennial conference is set for May 2021. Our 2019 conference saw publications of Irish SLT research and the celebration of 50yrs of SLT education in Ireland! Let’s do it again! IASLT Council is currently recruiting Conference Committee Members (6-8members) to help organise and run our flagship event. Volunteering and becoming involved with IASLT is a great way to gain valuable professional experience and contribute to our association’s ability to set high professional standards.   The Aims and Objectives of committee include (but are not limited to): Explore clinical practice, knowledge and evidence; balancing academic evidenced based research with an opportunity to share the invaluable clinical experience of frontline practitioners. Host a thought provoking, informative conference presenting research on outcome measures, efficacious service delivery models and reflective practice. Create an opportunity for delegates to connect and feel part of the wider SLT community within Ireland; better understand the role of IASLT as members of the Professional Body. Ensure Delegates get value for money. Maximise sponsorship: thereby minimising costs incurred to IASLT for hosting event. Please return you application form here no later than:    Monday March 09th, 5pm.  Successful conference committee applicants will be contacted by email no later than March 13th to agree and arrange an inaugural conference committee meeting in advance of AGM May 14th.  Conference committee meetings will occur at agreed dates/times either face-to-face or via teleconference as warranted. Roles on the committee will be agreed at the inaugural meeting these include but are not limited to: Conference Committee Chairperson, Treasurer/Sponsorship; scientific committee rep; Communications/social media; etc. IASLT members with all levels of clinical experience are welcome to apply.    APPLICATION FORM HERE Email address:  Please return completed application form to info@iaslt.ie

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) is seeking applications to fund projects and initiatives in public service bodies that are innovative in nature under the Public Service Innovation Fund. This is a competitive fund which was first piloted in 2019 They are looking to help fund projects that:  Can help add value to your organisation and make what you do better for the user/public;  Demonstrate new ways of working and help deliver your organisation’s strategic outcomes;  Implement approaches and ideas that can be spread elsewhere or help to create learnings for other public servants from experimentation;  Encourage cross-organisational or cross-silo working and show commitment from your organisation to innovation;  Use evidence, insights and data to drive innovation or seek to create evidence and data for future innovations.   Please see links attached  here and here

The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists are a member of CPLOL, a European organisation of Speech and Language Therapists. IASLT, together with other european member associations, will be celebrating CPLOL’s European Day of Speech and Language Therapy on March 6th 2020 (See Document Attached).     The aim of this annual event is to raise awareness of communication and swallowing disorders and the vital role of speech and language therapists (SLT). The theme for the 2020 European Day of Speech and Language Therapy is Reading and Writing Difficulties. On this day, speech and language therapists across Europe will organise workshops, training sessions, media coverage and conferences to publicise reading and writing difficulties and and the key role of SLT.   From as young as infancy, people begin to learn sounds and put them together to make words which express their thoughts and feelings. These speech and language skills learned at such a young age are the foundation of learning to read and write and are important through all stages of life, including school, work, and at home.   Both children and adults can struggle with reading and writing. Difficulties with speech and language can impact a person’s ability to develop literacy skills. These difficulties may be developmental, occurring from speech and language difficulties in childhood, or they may be acquired, such as after a stroke or brain injury. SLTs can assess and provide intervention for both child and adult speech, language, and literacy to aid them in their daily living.   So why not join together with your colleagues across Europe and celebrate the European Day of Speech & Language Therapy on March 6th 2020 in your setting/university/placement?   - Display our IASLT European Day 2020 poster designed by UCC Student IASLT member Yohanna Eo which captures the role that SLTs play in supporting reading and writing development in children and adults. (See Document Attached)   - See the link for information and ideas for celebrating and to access information on resources from previous years celebrations   https://cplol.eu/the-profession/european-day-of-slt.html - Share your events and celebrations on social media and tag @IASLT  @cplol_eu Happy Celebrating!   Fiona Hill IASLT CPLOL rep   Amanda Hassett IASLT Student & New Graduate Rep

23rd/24th March 2020 Child Vision Drumcondra   The IIRRT/IASLT have commissioned the Dysphagia course Ltd UK to provide a two day training course for radiography/speech and lanuage therapy led VF examinations. This course will enhance radiographer /speech and lanuage therapy skills not only to administer radiation but to work in conjunction with the speech and language therapists to comment on the radiological appearances. It will also provide a key advanced practice opportunity, equipping radiographers with the skills to provide videofluoroscopy examinations that were traditionally radiologist led services in the diagnostic imaging department   Session Day 1 23rd March Day 2 24h March 10:00 -11:00 Introduction to VFS procedures     Compensatory postural strategies and techniques   11:00 -11:15 Coffee Coffee 11:15 -12:30 Applied anatomy and physiology   Introduction to image reporting: proformas and scales   12:30 - 13:15 Lunch Lunch 13.15 - 14:30 Applied fluoroscopy science and technology   VFS international, national and local guidelines   14:30 -14:45 Coffee Coffee 14:45 -15:45 How does the underpinning diagnosis affect your VFS decision making? Implementing and auditing a Practitioner-led VFS service 15:45 - 16.30 Image viewing     Course quiz and evaluation     Introduction to Videofluoroscopy IIRRT/IASLT Course Facilitators: Professor Julie Nightingale, Professor of Diagnostic Imaging Education, Sheffield Hallam University, UK   Dr Elizabeth Boaden, Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Consultant Dysphagia SLT, Senior Research Fellow, University of Central Lancashire, UK    Register here:  JotForm forms are now secure by default. Unsecure form links will still work, but you won’t be able to share them as such from now on. https://form.jotform.com/200482544415955  

We are delighted to announce that we have a new post available and are looking for the successful applicant to join our expanding team to deliver Speech and Language Therapy in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare from Easter 2020. The successful candidate will work as part of our Practical SLT Outreach team providing Speech and Language Therapy to children in their homes, pre-schools and schools. Mentoring and teamwork is central to Practical SLT. ‘Practical Speech and Language Therapy provides an outreach, practical, efficient and effective model of service delivery of Speech and Language Therapy to children and adults. This model focuses on empowering parents and teaching staff to be central players in following through with speech and language goals which have been targeted, demonstrated, written up and delivered by the Speech & Language Therapist at each session.’ It is essential that the successful candidate for this position will possess: A recognised and approved qualification in Speech and Language Therapy Own car and full clean driver’s licence Registration with CORU A keen interest and experience working with children presenting with speech and language impairments and Autism. Please send CV to jrossiterslt@hotmail.com All enquiries can be made by email or phone to JoAnne Rossiter (087 660 5517)

Healthcare and Law Workshop for Dietitians/HSCPs   DATE:  Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd April 2020  Registration: 9am. Start 9.30am. Finish: 4.30pm.  Dublin (to be confirmed)  This two day workshop is for Health and Social Care Professionals who need to know more about the implications of current healthcare legislation for their own practice and, where relevant, for that of their staff.  The course will explore relevant legislation through use of case studies, and reference to current policies/guidelines and their practical application.  Facilitated by LaTouche Training. Some of the key areas to be covered will include: • Accountability of Health and Social Care Professionals (CORU and Professional Regulation) • Negligence and Duty of Care • Record Keeping • Information Governance • Data Protection • Freedom of Information • Consent • Best Practice in Report Writing • Witness Preparation and Giving Evidence in Courts, Inquests and Professional Conduct Hearings.    HSCP Professional Bodies participating in this multidisciplinary event listed below.  Dietetics (INDI), All 26 HSCPs  Course Organiser: Ruth Reidy, cpd@indi.ie      To register, contact Rebecca by email to: info@indi.ie  €250 Registration Fee & this fee will be collected at booking stage.   Catering for both days included in the cost    See payment form attached

2nd & 3rd April 2020

Details available on the website ​https://bit.ly/38iCaHF