Job Title: Speech & Language Therapy Manager (Practising Role)
Reports To: CEO
Direct Reports: Approximately 7 Speech & Language Therapists across 4 locations
Locations: This role is open to applicants who can practise from any of our following Child Development Centres:
- Clonakilty, West Cork
- Claremorris, Co. Mayo
- Clones, Co. Monaghan
Hybrid working options are available, including flexibility to work from home where appropriate.
Role Type: Permanent
Hours: Applications are welcome from candidates seeking either full-time or part-time opportunities.
About Sensational Kids
Sensational Kids is an award-winning social enterprise and registered charity dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families by making high-quality therapeutic services accessible to those who need them most.
As Ireland’s leading national non-profit provider of children’s therapeutic services, Sensational Kids operates Child Development Centres in Kildare, Mayo, Monaghan and West Cork, providing a range of specialist supports for children and young people with neurodevelopmental and additional needs.
At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to delivering child-centred, family-focused care that is accessible, compassionate and evidence-based. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and we work in partnership with families, schools and communities to achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes.
Our values of compassion, excellence, innovation, inclusion, collaboration and play guide our work and shape our culture. We recognise the power of play as a vital part of childhood and an essential foundation for learning, development, communication and wellbeing. We are committed to creating a positive, supportive environment where children, families and staff feel valued, respected and empowered.
As a social enterprise, all income generated through our services is reinvested directly into expanding supports for children and families. Fundraising also plays a vital role in our mission, enabling us to subsidise therapy services, develop innovative programmes, invest in specialist facilities and ensure that families can access the supports they need regardless of financial circumstances.
Through a combination of clinical excellence, playful and engaging therapeutic approaches, community support and fundraising initiatives, Sensational Kids continues to grow its impact and provide life-changing services to thousands of children and families across Ireland.
Position Overview
The Speech & Language Therapy Manager at Sensational Kids is a newly established role, created as part of the organisation’s continued growth and commitment to clinical excellence. As Sensational Kids expands its Clinical Management Team and introduces a discipline-specific clinical leadership structure, this position will provide professional leadership for Speech & Language Therapy services while maintaining a substantial direct clinical caseload.
The majority of the role is dedicated to clinical practice, including assessment, intervention and support for children and families. Alongside direct service delivery, the postholder will provide professional leadership, operational oversight and clinical governance support for a team of Speech & Language Therapists working across multiple locations.
The role combines clinical excellence with staff support, service development, quality assurance and multidisciplinary collaboration. As a practising manager, the successful candidate will remain closely connected to frontline service delivery while contributing to the strategic development and continuous improvement of Speech & Language Therapy services throughout the organisation.
The Speech & Language Therapy Manager will be a member of both the Clinical Management Team and the Senior Management Team, contributing to organisational decision-making, service innovation and the ongoing development of high-quality, family-centred services.
This role plays a key part in advancing Sensational Kids’ mission to provide accessible, life-changing supports for children and young people with additional needs, combining excellent clinical practice with effective leadership to drive quality, innovation and positive outcomes across services.
Key Responsibilities
- Clinical Leadership & Service Delivery
- Maintain a substantial clinical caseload, delivering high-quality, evidence-based assessment and intervention services to children and young people.
- Conduct a range of Speech & Language Therapy assessments, including speech sound, language, communication, and autism-related communication assessments.
- Lead and support the Speech & Language Therapy team in delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions.
- Promote clinical excellence, professional standards and evidence-based practice across all locations.
- Provide clinical supervision, mentoring and reflective practice opportunities to Speech & Language Therapists.
- Support clinical decision-making, caseload management and risk management processes to ensure safe, effective and timely service delivery.
- Foster multidisciplinary collaboration and integrated, family-centred care.
- Participate in Clinical Governance Committee meetings, contributing expertise relating to Speech & Language Therapy practice, quality assurance and risk management.
- Represent the Speech & Language Therapy discipline as a member of the Senior Management Team.
- Lead by example in embedding the values and culture of Sensational Kids, creating an environment where staff feel supported, empowered, accountable and engaged in achieving the organisation’s mission.
- Service Development & Quality Assurance
- Contribute to service planning, programme development and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Monitor service activity, clinical outcomes and quality indicators to identify opportunities for innovation and enhancement.
- Develop, review and implement Speech & Language Therapy policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.
- Collaborate with the wider Clinical Management Team to support organisational clinical standards and governance frameworks.
- Support the ongoing development and expansion of Speech & Language Therapy services in response to emerging needs.
- Oversee the management, safety and maintenance of therapy environments, resources and clinical materials.
- Contribute to promotional activities, service development initiatives and media communications where appropriate.
- Training, Education & Professional Development
- Design and deliver training workshops for parents, schools, professionals and community organisations.
- Provide internal CPD sessions for Speech & Language Therapy and multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Develop educational resources and practical tools to support communication development and stakeholder understanding.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice and clinical excellence across the Speech & Language Therapy team.
- Maintain and develop professional knowledge through ongoing CPD and engagement with current evidence and best practice.
- Promote and develop Sensational Kids Speech & Language Therapy services through outreach, relationship-building and engagement with external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the marketing and communications team on awareness campaigns, information sessions and events.
- Represent Speech & Language Therapy services at meetings, professional networks, conferences and community events.
- Advocate for early intervention, inclusive communication supports and family-centred practice.
- Act as an ambassador for Sensational Kids, promoting the organisation’s mission, values and services.
- Operational & Team Management
- Provide leadership and operational management to employed and subcontracted Speech & Language Therapy team members.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, induction and professional development activities.
- Conduct regular supervision, performance reviews and development planning with team members.
- Monitor workforce capacity, resource allocation and service scheduling to support efficient service delivery.
- Contribute to budgeting and resource planning processes.
- Maintain accurate, confidential and secure clinical documentation in accordance with organisational and professional requirements.
- Foster a positive, supportive and collaborative team culture aligned with organisational values.
- Ensure compliance with CORU standards, IASLT guidelines, safeguarding requirements and organisational policies.
- Provide local operational oversight for the centre in which you are based, supporting the effective day-to-day running of services in collaboration with the Senior Management Team.
- Centre Management and Leadership – Manage the centre, in which you are based,, effectively, ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the facility while acting in a supervisory and leadership role on-site. Demonstrate a supportive, and proactive approach in overseeing the centre, addressing on-site challenges and situations as they arise with professionalism and sound judgment.
- Provide leadership and operational support to ensure clinicians have the resources, environment, and assistance they need to carry out their roles to the fullest extent of their duties. Respond promptly to operational issues, resolve concerns efficiently, and maintain a safe, welcoming, and well-organised environment for clinicians, and clients alike.
- Act as a role model, promoting professionalism, accountability and clinical excellence.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required as part of the role.
Qualifications Required
Essential
- Recognised qualification in Speech & Language Therapy.
- Current registration with CORU as a Speech & Language Therapist.
- Minimum of five years’ post-qualification clinical experience, including experience working with children and young people with additional needs.
- Full clean driving licence and access to transport for travel between service locations.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant clinical area, leadership, management or service development.
- Training in clinical supervision, mentoring or coaching.
- Membership of the Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists (IASLT).
Essential
- Significant experience assessing and supporting children and young people with a range of developmental, communication and learning needs.
- Experience managing a complex clinical caseload within a multidisciplinary environment.
- Experience providing clinical supervision, mentoring or professional support to therapists, students or assistants.
- Experience in a senior therapist, clinical specialist, team lead or management role.
- Experience supporting, supervising or managing speech & language therapists within a healthcare, disability or child development setting.
- Experience supporting service development, quality improvement initiatives or clinical governance activities.
- Experience collaborating effectively with families, schools, healthcare professionals and external agencies.
- Experience contributing to multidisciplinary planning and decision-making.
- Experience maintaining high standards of documentation, reporting and professional compliance.
Desirable
- Experience coordinating staff across multiple locations.
- Experience participating in recruitment, onboarding and performance management processes.
- Experience delivering training, presentations or professional development programmes.
- Experience contributing to strategic planning, service expansion or organisational development initiatives.
Clinical Expertise
- Excellent assessment, diagnostic and intervention skills.
- Strong knowledge of evidence-based practice and current developments in Speech & Language Therapy.
- Ability to manage clinical complexity and support therapists with challenging cases.
- Sound understanding of safeguarding, child protection and professional governance requirements.
Leadership & Management
- Ability to provide supportive leadership while maintaining a strong clinical focus.
- Ability to motivate, engage and develop team members working across multiple locations.
- Strong coaching, mentoring and supervision skills.
- Excellent planning, prioritisation and delegation abilities.
- Effective decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to monitor service quality, outcomes and performance indicators.
- Create and sustain a positive, high-performing team environment that embodies the values of Sensational Kids and encourages engagement, professional growth, and outstanding service delivery.
Communication & Collaboration
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and relationship-building abilities.
- Ability to communicate effectively with children, families, colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Skilled in facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration and shared decision-making.
Organisation & Service Development
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to balance a substantial clinical caseload with leadership and management responsibilities.
- Experience identifying opportunities for service improvement and implementing change.
- Proficiency in clinical record systems, data management and reporting.
Leadership Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A commitment to delivering high-quality, family-centred care.
- Professional credibility through strong clinical practice.
- The ability to lead by example and model best practice.
- A collaborative, supportive and empowering leadership style.
- A commitment to staff wellbeing, engagement and professional development.
- Adaptability and resilience within a growing organisation.
- A focus on continuous improvement, innovation and positive outcomes for children and families.
At Sensational Kids, we are committed to supporting our team members to thrive both professionally and personally.
Benefits
- Competitive permanent salaried position with regular salary reviews
- Free onsite parking
- Birthday Bonus Day Off
- Investment in annual CPD
- Health Cash Plan, including reimbursement of a wide range of healthcare expenses for employees and eligible family members
- Personal Accident Cover
- GP Advice Line
- Virtual Doctor Service
- Private Prescription Service
- Counselling Service
- Medical Information and Legal Advice Line
- Employee Assistance Programme
Additional Wellbeing Supports
- Confidential counselling and wellbeing support for employees and eligible family members
- Digital fitness programmes
- Nutrition guides and healthy recipes
- Wellbeing eLearning programmes
- Guided meditation programme (BeCalm)
- Wellbeing podcasts (SoundSpace)
Professional Development
- Access to personal CPD budget
- Clinical mentoring and support
- Regular clinical supervision
- Support from the Clinical Governance Committee
- Free access to internal training workshops
- Opportunity to work in our specialist Sensory Motor Gyms, designed to facilitate developmental progression through engaging and child-centred therapeutic environments
- The opportunity to work with children until goals are achieved
Remuneration
A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and reflective of the dual nature of this role, combining a substantial clinical caseload with leadership, management and service oversight responsibilities.
Please send your CV and cover letter to:
Karen Leigh, CEO
[email protected]
Please outline why you would like to avail of this job opportunity and indicate your preferred work location.
Closing Date for Applications: 31st July 2026
Sensational Kids is an equal opportunities employer
