Job Description

Are you ready to shape the future of speech, language, and communication support for children and young people in Manchester? We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Service Lead to join our progressive Speech and Language Therapy team.

In Manchester we do the following:

Cutting-Edge Approaches: We embrace the latest evidence-based practices to deliver therapy, ensuring every child receives tailored support that meets their unique needs. Collaborative Culture: Our team thrives on multi-disciplinary partnerships, working closely with families, schools, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to create holistic solutions. Continuous Improvement: We foster a culture of learning, encouraging staff to explore new models of care, pilot innovative projects, and contribute to service transformation. Empowering Children: Our forward-thinking strategies focus on empowering children and young people to achieve their full potential in communication, learning, and social participation. Provide day-to-day operational and professional management for the traded service, additional needs team, surestart/early years team, and the social, emotional and mental health team. Drive service innovation, championing new ways of working and leading change initiatives that improve outcomes for Manchester's children. Build strong relationships with other service leads, partnership representatives, and key stakeholders to support the service objectives and values. Oversee financial management of a delegated budget, ensuring resources are used effectively to maximize impact.

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.

Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.

Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.



To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you'll need, take a look at the & Person Specification attachments under the 'Supporting Documents' heading. So that you're even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you'll need to take time to read the ' Candidate Essentials Guide' that sits with the and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how 'we care for you as you care for others'. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you'll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.



Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application



Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we're proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU --for our patients, our communities, and each other.



As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application--especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions--is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.



Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.



Diversity Matters



MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.



Diversity Matters



MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating, and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk .



We're looking forward to hearing from you!