Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Leigh; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health provider in Greater Manchester is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist. The role involves providing specialist therapy to adults in a diverse inpatient setting. Candidates should have experience with communication and swallowing difficulties, and a degree in Speech and Language Therapy is essential. This position offers opportunities for professional development in a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Pay Enhancements

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Excellent pension

Cycle to work scheme

Wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy is essential.
• Experience working in the NHS required.
• Postgraduate experience in communication and swallowing difficulties is a must.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy to mental health service users.
• Conduct communication and swallowing assessments.
• Work autonomously managing a complex caseload.

Skills

Experience with adults

Communication assessment

Swallowing intervention

Multidisciplinary team working

Clinical audit

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Relevant master's degree

Job description

Job summary

An incredibly exciting role has arisen in Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist.

This role will provide inpatient swallow and communication assessment and intervention to adults.

The role reflects the changing and more complex health needs of our population, with opportunities to work with both acquired and developmental disorders, alongside complex mental health and physical health care needs.

The successful applicant will be able to work independently with the adult population, building on their previous skills and knowledge with opportunities to develop new skills. It would be the perfect position for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with adult experience, who is keen to further develop depth of knowledge across a broad range of presentations.

Part-time hours may be considered.

For further information, please contact Natasha Gillan, Speech Therapy Professional Lead, [e-mail] , 07785 459473 or Claire Leigh, [e-mail] 07966068317.

Main duties of the job

To provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) to service users across inpatient Mental Health Services at Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH). This will include communication and swallowing assessment and interventions.

Inpatient services cover organic (e.g Dementia) and non-organic (such as Bipolar and Schizophrenia) disorders. These services are delivered over Adults of Working Age, Older Adults and Psychiatric Intensive Care wards.

The population is diverse and service users will vary presenting with a wide variety of acquired and developmental communication and swallowing difficulties, alongside a variety of mental health conditions. This post is the perfect opportunity to utilise and further develop specialist skills across a broad range of presentations, responding to ever increasingly diverse and complex health needs of the adult population.

The postholder will be working as part of a wider SLT inpatient team but may be the only SLT in a hospital setting. You will be expected to maintain active clinical supervision (including peer supervision) with the wider Speech and Language Therapy team across Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) and nationally where appropriate.

The post will be based at Atherleigh park, Leigh, but will provide cover to several inpatient settings across the GMMH footprint.

There may be times when clinical need and risk dictates that the post holder may have to provide some cover to other parts of GMMH.

About us

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford,Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Details Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

437-7339432

Job locations

Atherleigh Park Hospital

Atherleigh Way

Leigh, Greater Manchester

WN7 1YH

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

• Pay Enhancements
• 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
• fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

• Pay Enhancements
• 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
• fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Person Specification essential Essential

• oDegree in Speech and Language Therapy

Desirable

• oManagement/ Leadership qualification

Essential and Desirable Essential

• oRelevant master's degree or equivalent experience and post graduate training
• oEvidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
• oMember of RCSLT
• oHCPC Registration - Licence to Practise
• oExperience of working in the NHS
• oPost Graduate experience of working autonomously with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties
• oMDT working
• oEvaluating different models of service delivery and implementing change that led to service improvements.
• oExperience of clinical audit
• oProviding specialist training to the broader MDT in relation to communication and swallowing
• oSpecialist knowledge and application of current best practice for adults in both physical and mental health settings underpinned by theory and practical experience
• oDemonstrate an understanding of the professional/legal issues e.g. confidentiality, consent, and best interests
• oKnowledge of clinical governance and its application
• oDeliver effective Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention in non-traditional and sometimes challenging environments
• oBe able to work autonomously to manage a complex caseload
• oDemonstrate effective communication skills
• oDeveloped auditory and perceptual skills
• oEffective assessment and care planning skills
• oExcellent decision making, problem solving and negotiating skills
• oAbility to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team
• oCommitment to promoting Speech and Language Therapy Service within inpatient settings
• oSelf-aware and committed to professional and personal development
• oIndependent report writing
• oWillingness to work flexibly in accordance with the service needs

Desirable

• oMember of relevant CEN
• oWorking with adults with social, emotional and mental health needs
• oWorking with adults with Serious Mental Illnesses
• oContribution to clinical formulation and differential diagnosis
• oAssessment and diagnosis of Developmental Communication difficulties (including Neurodivergence)
• oAssessment and intervention of acquired neurological conditions
• oKnowledge of relevant policies and practice, For example, providing physical healthcare in Inpatient Mental Health settings
• oRecognise, plan and carry out research/quality improvement projects
• oInnovative and self-directing

Person Specification essential Essential

• oDegree in Speech and Language Therapy

Desirable

• oManagement/ Leadership qualification

Essential and Desirable Essential

• oRelevant master's degree or equivalent experience and post graduate training
• oEvidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
• oMember of RCSLT
• oHCPC Registration - Licence to Practise
• oExperience of working in the NHS
• oPost Graduate experience of working autonomously with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties
• oMDT working
• oEvaluating different models of service delivery and implementing change that led to service improvements.
• oExperience of clinical audit
• oProviding specialist training to the broader MDT in relation to communication and swallowing
• oSpecialist knowledge and application of current best practice for adults in both physical and mental health settings underpinned by theory and practical experience
• oDemonstrate an understanding of the professional/legal issues e.g. confidentiality, consent, and best interests
• oKnowledge of clinical governance and its application
• oDeliver effective Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention in non-traditional and sometimes challenging environments
• oBe able to work autonomously to manage a complex caseload
• oDemonstrate effective communication skills
• oDeveloped auditory and perceptual skills
• oEffective assessment and care planning skills
• oExcellent decision making, problem solving and negotiating skills
• oAbility to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team
• oCommitment to promoting Speech and Language Therapy Service within inpatient settings
• oSelf-aware and committed to professional and personal development
• oIndependent report writing
• oWillingness to work flexibly in accordance with the service needs

Desirable

• oMember of relevant CEN
• oWorking with adults with social, emotional and mental health needs
• oWorking with adults with Serious Mental Illnesses
• oContribution to clinical formulation and differential diagnosis
• oAssessment and diagnosis of Developmental Communication difficulties (including Neurodivergence)
• oAssessment and intervention of acquired neurological conditions
• oKnowledge of relevant policies and practice, For example, providing physical healthcare in Inpatient Mental Health settings
• oRecognise, plan and carry out research/quality improvement projects
• oInnovative and self-directing

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

Atherleigh Park Hospital

Atherleigh Way

Leigh, Greater Manchester

WN7 1YH

Employer's website

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

Atherleigh Park Hospital

Atherleigh Way

Leigh, Greater Manchester

WN7 1YH

Employer's website

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)