Job overview
The Community Learning Disability Services Manager (Band 8a) is responsible for providing clinical and operational leadership for specialist community learning disability services, including the Bury Specialist Community Learning Disability Team. The post holder is a senior leader within the Learning Disability Directorate, contributing to strategic development, service transformation and continuous quality improvement in line with Trust and system priorities.
The role focuses on delivering safe, effective, person‑centred and well‑led services, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and commissioning requirements. The post holder works in close partnership with people with learning disabilities, families, carers, commissioners, local authorities and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to improve outcomes, promote integration across health and social care, and ensure services reflect Trust values, national policy and best practice.
Main duties of the job
The post holder leads the planning, development, delivery and performance management of community learning disability services, ensuring high‑quality care within agreed resources and budgets. This includes establishing robust clinical governance arrangements, safeguarding systems, risk management processes and compliance with statutory, regulatory and CQC requirements.
Key responsibilities include leading service transformation and integration, supporting innovative practice, and ensuring the voice of people with learning disabilities drives service design and quality improvement. The role requires strategic oversight of financial management, including responsibility for borough budgets, efficiency plans and service redesign, ensuring services are cost‑effective and meet agreed service specifications.
The post holder provides professional, clinical and managerial leadership to senior staff and multidisciplinary teams, promoting engagement, learning, research, development and continuous improvement. They are responsible for workforce planning, performance appraisal, staff wellbeing and effective communication across services. The role also involves managing complaints, serious incidents and complex clinical matters, contributing to on‑call arrangements, and maintaining strong partnerships with commissioners, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and wider system stakeholders.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
* Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
* Access to Continued Professional Development
* Involvement in improvement and research activities
* Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
* Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Community Learning Disability Services Manager (Band 8a) is responsible for providing clinical and operational leadership Bury Specialist Community Learning Disability Team. The post holder is accountable to the Associate Director within the Learning Disability Directorate and is a key member of the senior management team.
The role has overall responsibility for ensuring services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well‑led, in line with commissioning requirements, statutory frameworks, national policy and Trust values. The post holder plays a central role in shaping and delivering Trust and system priorities, including service transformation, integration across health and social care, and continuous quality improvement for people with learning disabilities.
The post holder works in close partnership with people with learning disabilities, families and carers, commissioners, local authorities, clinicians, senior managers and wider system stakeholders. The role requires advanced leadership, sound financial and performance management, strong governance oversight, and the ability to manage highly complex clinical, operational and organisational challenges.
Service Leadership and Delivery
* Provide overall leadership for specialist community learning disability services, ensuring delivery of effective, efficient and high‑quality clinical pathways in line with commissioning specifications and available resources.
* Develop, implement and oversee clinical and operational systems that support safe, effective, responsive and person‑centred care.
* Ensure services reflect Trust values and national policy, and are continuously improved through quality improvement, benchmarking and innovation.
* Lead and support service transformation programmes, working collaboratively with people with learning disabilities, families, carers, commissioners and partner organisations.
* Support the integration agenda by working closely with community services, mental health services and local authority partners in line with locality, Trust and Greater Manchester Learning Disability strategies.
Governance, Quality and Safeguarding
* Ensure robust clinical governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively, in partnership with the Head of Quality for Learning Disability Services.
* Ensure compliance with statutory regulation, legal frameworks and Care Quality Commission (CQC) fundamental standards.
* Maintain effective systems for risk management, health and safety, patient safety and learning from incidents.
* Oversee safeguarding arrangements for children and adults, ensuring policies are followed, concerns are acted upon promptly, and lessons learnt are embedded into practice.
* Lead the effective management of complaints, serious concerns and allegations, ensuring timely resolution in line with Trust and partner organisation procedures.
Clinical Leadership
* Provide professional and clinical leadership across services, ensuring multidisciplinary teams are actively involved in service planning, decision‑making and quality improvement.
* Offer senior clinical advice and expertise on complex assessment and intervention, particularly for individuals presenting with severely challenging behaviour or complex needs.
* Promote evidence‑based practice, reflective learning, research and development across services.
Financial and Performance Management
* Hold responsibility for borough‑based budgets for learning disability services, including delegated financial accountability.
* Monitor financial performance, identify pressures early, and report to the Associate Director or Service Director as required.
* Work with senior leaders and finance colleagues on efficiency programmes, service redesign and cost‑effectiveness.
* Act as an authorised signatory and ensure services meet required standards within agreed service level agreements and contracts.
Workforce Leadership and Management
* Provide line management to senior staff as required and ensure robust systems are in place for staff appraisal, job planning and performance management.
* Ensure effective communication systems are in place so staff are informed, engaged and involved in decisions that affect them.
* Promote strong multidisciplinary team working and positive staff engagement across services.
* Support workforce development through shared learning, new ways of working across professional and organisational boundaries, and a culture of continuous improvement.
* Contribute to the Learning Disability on‑call rota as required.
Partnership Working and External Relationships
* Develop and maintain effective working relationships with commissioners, local authorities, service user groups, police, voluntary sector organisations and wider system partners.
* Promote the services positively at local, regional and national level.
* Ensure the involvement of service users and families in operational and strategic planning and decision‑making.
Policy, Equality and Professional Responsibilities
* Ensure full compliance with Trust policies, procedures, standing orders and financial instructions.
* Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in service delivery and employment practice.
* Maintain professional standards of conduct and ensure continued professional development and mandatory training compliance.
* Adhere to confidentiality, information governance and data protection requirements at all times.
* Comply with health and safety, infection prevention and control policies and report incidents appropriately.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience at a senior management level
* Experience of working in, managing and developing multi-disciplinary LD Services
* Experienced in supporting people with complex and challenging needs.
* Exposure to service, financial and staff management at a senior level
* Experience of service redesign
* Experience of leading quality improvement and change processes
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Relevant health or social care professional qualification and registration
* Post graduate diploma or equivalent experience which can be evidenced
* Evidence of continued professional development
* Evidence of management training
Desirable criteria
* Post graduate study in research methodology
* Clinical Supervision qualification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Detailed understanding of government policy in relation to LD services and wider health and social care agenda
* Detailed knowledge of national targets and requirements
* Highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of learning disability areas of practice
Desirable criteria
* Working knowledge of implementing programmes of health improvement and national policy implementation
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Ability to lead and manage a team
* Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills
* Ability to utilise IT effectively
* Excellent report writing skills
* Ability to critically analyse data
* Ability to build confidence with local stakeholders and professionals
* Ability to experience leading, motivating and empowering others to reach organisational goals, especially within complex multi- professional environments
* Managing change and coping with ambiguity
* Excellent communicator – both orally and written
* Ability to demonstrate effective people and management skills
* Project management skills
📝 Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
We understand that some candidates may use AI tools to help prepare their application. This is not restricted, however, any AI support should only be used to enhance your own writing and must reflect your genuine skills and experience. You will be asked to talk about your application at interview. Applications that contain false or misleading information may be removed from the recruitment process.
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.
✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with. These include:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.
If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.
🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -
The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
📣 Additional Information -
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.
If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.
Please note:
* We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
* We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181