Job vacancy: Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Prestwich, Manchester

Job summary

Main area: Mental Health
Grade: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday - Happy to discuss flexible working)
Job ref: 437-7275652

Employer: Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Riverside Centre - Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Town: Prestwich, Manchester
Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 Per Annum pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 22/08/2025 23:59

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 7

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached detailed job description and person specification:

Staff benefits

Pay Enhancements – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
Excellent pension
Cycle to work scheme
Salary sacrifice car scheme
Wellbeing programme
Blue Light Card Discounts

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy • Relevant master’s degree or equivalent experience and post graduate training • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses • Member of RCSLT • HCPC Registration – Licence to Practise

Desirable criteria

• Member of relevant CEN • Management/ Leadership qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in the NHS • Post Graduate experience of working with service users with neurodevelopmental (including neurodivergent) swallowing and communication difficulties • Experience of working as an independent and autonomous practitioner • MDT working • Evaluating different models of service delivery and implementing change that led to service improvements. • Experience of standard setting and participating and leading clinical audit in own area • Providing specialist training to the broader MDT in relation to communication and swallowing

Desirable criteria

• Post Graduate experience of working with adult acquired communication and swallowing difficulties • Post Graduate experience of working with service users with mental health conditions • Working with adults with social, emotional and mental health needs in a forensic/secure setting. • Contribution to clinical formulation and differential diagnosis

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Specialist knowledge and application of current best practice for adults in both physical and mental health settings underpinned by theory and practical experience • Demonstrate knowledge of the needs of service users within Forensic settings • Knowledge of relevant Forensic policies and practice, For example, the provision of physical healthcare in the Forensic settings • Ability to contribute towards strategic planning • Demonstrate an understanding of the professional/legal issues e.g. confidentiality, consent, and best interests • Knowledge of clinical governance and its application

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Deliver effective Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention in non-traditional and sometimes challenging environments • Be able to work autonomously to manage a complex caseload • Demonstrate effective communication skills • Developed auditory and perceptual skills • Effective assessment and care planning skills • Excellent decision making, problem solving and negotiating skills • Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team • Commitment to promoting Speech and Language Therapy Service within Forensic Settings • Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development • Independent report writing

Desirable criteria

• Recognise, plan and carry out research/quality improvement projects

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Willingness to work flexibly in accordance with the service needs • Good work attendance record Mental Effort Able to maintain intense concentration and respond flexibly to unpredictable work patterns, deadlines, and frequent interruptions. Emotional Effort The post holder may be required to impart potentially distressing and unexpected information of a diagnostic and prognostic nature to service users and carers and may require the ability to deal with sensitive or distressing information from carers or service users. Frequently dealing with service users who may have a history of/currently be in, an emotionally distressing circumstance. Physical Effort There may be prolonged times working statically at a desk. There may be times when being seated or stood for prolonged periods is necessary to engage service users. Working conditions There will be a requirement to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to service user contact on a frequent basis, e.g. swallowing assessments and the production of sputum and saliva or close contact with those with poor oral or personal hygiene. Involvement in personal care when taking an MDT approach to rehabilitation. To be able to provide a person-centred approach to assessment and intervention whilst adhering to AFS service standards and working in potentially restrictive environments/non traditional therapeutic environments. The post holder may be infrequently exposed to verbally or occasionally physically aggressive behaviours. There may be infrequent requirement to travel across the wide footprint of the Trust

Desirable criteria

Innovative and self-directing

Important Information about working for GMMH:

All positions within the Trust are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, for further information on the checks required please visit the NHS Employers website www.nhsemployers.org

The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.

The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.

Sponsorship

We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click here.

If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.

The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it here.

Do you have experience outside the NHS?

We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.

We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment. Please contact our Recruitment Team for more information.

**Please note, this vacancy may be closed at any time if sufficient applications have been received**

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Bronze

We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Clare Bree

Job title

Physical Health Team Lead

Email address

[email protected]

Telephone number

07748135947

Additional information

Please contact [email protected], 07785 459 473 OR [email protected] 07748135947

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Job summary

Employer heading

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 7

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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