The Expanding Role of Speech and Language Therapists within ICPOP Specialist Community Teams: A National Perspective

Abstract

Background The Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) provides specialist community-based multidisciplinary intervention for older people with complex needs, shifting care from hospitals toward communities. In 2025, 28 of 30 planned ICPOP teams are established nationwide. The Irish Association for Speech and Language Therapists' (IASLT, 2022) recommend SLTs be included on all frailty intervention teams across Ireland. Currently 10 of 28 ICPOP teams have SLT. The specific contribution of ICPOP SLTs remains unexplored. Gaining an understanding of the dynamic role of SLTs within ICPOP is vital for informing professional clinical guidelines. Methods A non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was used, incorporating principles from the Tailored Design Method to enhance response rates. The survey was developed in Microsoft Word and distributed via email. The survey was non-anonymous, with identifying information collected to follow-up where necessary. SLTs working on ICPOP teams across rural and urban settings, including community and hospital-based teams, were invited to participate. Data was gathered from ten participants with 100% response rate. Results Findings highlight roles and responsibilities of SLTs within ICPOP teams across Ireland. While commonalities were observed, variations existed based on team configurations and geographical locations. Of ten SLTs surveyed, nine are employed at 0.5 Whole Time Equivalent, a predominant part-time workforce within these specialist roles, with the majority expected to participate in non-SLT-specific activities such as referral triaging and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments. SLTs face challenges related to care coordination upon discharge due to primary care vacancies. Significant variation exists in accessing specialist interventions such as Videofluoroscopy Swallow Study, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and Voice/Digital Stroboscopy Clinics. Conclusion Understanding challenges faced by SLTs in different geographical and organisational contexts can support policymakers to meet the diverse needs of older individuals. Further research is needed to explore how increasing SLT resources could improve outcomes for older adults receiving integrated care.