Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in Leigh

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 7

Main area Speech & Language Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (The contract may be terminated sooner than the 12 months should the substantive employee return to work before the 12 month period.) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Happy to discuss flexible working) Job ref 437-8119073

Site Atherleigh Park Hospital Town Leigh, Greater Manchester Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 02/08/2026 23:59

Job overview

An incredibly exciting opportunity has arisen in Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to cover a maternity leave.

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 and experience working within mental health for a fixed term period. It may be a great opportunity to consider a secondment from your permanent role!

Part-time hours may be considered.

For further information, please contact Natasha Gillan, Speech Therapy Professional Lead, natasha.gillan@gmmh.nhs.uk , 07785 459473 or Claire Leigh, claire.leigh@gmmh.nhs.uk 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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years

Person specification

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Essential and Desirable

• 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
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Post Graduate experience of working autonomously with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties
• Evaluating different models of service delivery and implementing change that led to service improvements.
• Experience of clinical audit
• Providing specialist training to the broader MDT in relation to communication and swallowing
• Specialist knowledge and application of current best practice for adults in both physical and mental health settings underpinned by theory and practical experience
• Demonstrate an understanding of the professional/legal issues e.g. confidentiality, consent, and best interests
• Knowledge of clinical governance and its application
• 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 inpatient settings
• Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development
• Independent report writing
• Willingness to work flexibly in accordance with the service needs
• Member of relevant CEN
• Working with adults with social, emotional and mental health needs
• Working with adults with Serious Mental Illnesses
• Contribution to clinical formulation and differential diagnosis
• Assessment and diagnosis of Developmental Communication difficulties (including Neurodivergence)
• Assessment and intervention of acquired neurological conditions
• Knowledge of relevant policies and practice, For example, providing physical healthcare in Inpatient Mental Health settings
• Recognise, plan and carry out research/quality improvement projects
• 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 – clickhere .

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

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Natasha Gillan Job title Speech & Language Professional Lead Email address natasha.gillan@gmmh.nhs.uk Telephone number 07785 459473 Additional information

Claire Leigh, claire.leigh@gmmh.nhs.uk 07966068317 .

As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.