Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Greater Manchester Mental Health; Prestwich; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health organization in Prestwich is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to provide expert assessment and intervention for service users within forensic settings. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and relevant experience in neurodevelopmental communication difficulties. This position involves working in a collaborative MDT environment, offering unique opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

27 days annual leave (increasing to 33 days after 10 years)

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy required.
• Experience working with neurodivergent communication difficulties necessary.
• HCPC Registration – Licence to Practise required.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy to service users.
• Conduct assessments and interventions for communication and swallowing.
• Collaborate with Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to provide consultative support.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Relevant master’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

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Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Prestwich

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Client:

Greater Manchester Mental Health

Location:

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

5830ba6ff73d

Job Views:

9

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

We are very excited to advertise a new B7 Speech and Language Therapy position within the Adult Forensic Services (AFS) at GMMH.

As GMMH is transforming its services to maximise patient outcomes, this new role will work to provide both direct and indirect service user assessment and intervention and provide training to the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

Collaborative work with the MDT will include working with other Allied Health Professionals, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Psychological Services and Physical Healthcare Teams.

Main duties of the job

To Provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) to service users (some of whom may present with very high risk behaviours) across inpatient Adult Forensic Services (AFS). This will include communication and swallowing assessment and interventions. The post holder will also provide wider consultative support and training for colleagues.

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) NHS Foundation Trust provides secure forensic mental health services for the population of Greater Manchester. GMMH Adult Forensic Services comprise: a male medium secure unit, a male low secure unit, a male forensic stepdown unit, a women’s blended service, and a Specialist Community Forensic Team.

As this is a new role, there will also be opportunities to develop Speech and Language Therapy pathways across AFS, working alongside clinical and operational AFS colleagues and Speech and Language Therapy and AHP leads.

This role will offer unique opportunities to further develop specialist skills used in assessment and intervention of adults with developmental, acquired and mental health communication and swallowing difficulties.

The Speech and Language Therapy and AFS teams are very much looking forward to having this invaluable position within AFS!

Working for our organisation

reater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over6,400members of staff, who deliver services from more than160locations.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached detailed job description and person specification:

• 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
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car scheme

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

• • 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
• • Member of relevant CEN • Management/ Leadership qualification

Experience

• • 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
• • 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

• • 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 confidentiality, consent, and best interests • Knowledge of clinical governance and its application

Skills and Abilities

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

Other Requirements

• • 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, 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
• Innovative and self-directing

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.

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 .

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.