Job overview
Pennine Care are proud to be developing our clinical offer for Cared For Children and Care Leavers, in conjunction with our local authority partners and colleagues across the Greater Manchester area. We aspire to provide our cared for children with high quality, trauma-informed services, and reduce the disadvantages faced by children when moving between boroughs.
We have an innovative new post providing Trust wide expertise, consultation and training in Speech and Language Therapy to enhance our Cared for and Care Leavers clinical offer. Working alongside Trust wide Consultant Clinical Psychologists leading the Cared For offer, you will work creatively and flexibly to develop the role and support the five existing teams across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Stockport. These teams include skilled, passionate colleagues including clinical psychologists, mental health practitioners and assistant psychologists.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a highly skilled, compassionate, experienced Speech and Language Therapist with a passion for working with cared for children. The successful candidate will provide clinical expertise integrating SALT knowledge and skills into our existing mental health offer for CFCL across the Pennine Care footprint. We are keen to use this post to help develop our offer for cared for children with developmental language disorders, communication difficulties and learning disabilities, including those who are non-verbal.
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
Through joint work, including screening, assessment, training and direct interventions, the post holder will ensure that the principles of “Future in Mind” and iThrive recommendations are delivered across the Pennine Care footprint for Cared For Children. You will have close connections with CAMHS services, and there will be opportunities to develop your mental health knowledge and skills as well as maintain your professional identity through connection with SALT colleagues Trustwide.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Successful completion of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists training course (Degree or Equivalent)
* Certificate to practice
* Health and Care Professions Council, HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist
* Evidence of Continuing Professional Development and relevant post-graduate training plus further experience equivalent to Masters level
* Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Desirable criteria
* Masters Degree
* Post qualification training related to trauma-informed / responsive and / or neuroaffirmative approaches
* Member of any relevant special interest groups
Experience
Essential criteria
* Relevant clinical experience at post-graduate level in driving forward assessment and care planning
* Experience of working within a relevant specialist area where there is clinical complexity (including trauma, neurodiversity and learning difficulties / disabilities)
* Experience of working within a team and without independently
* Experience of working collaboratively with parents, carers and professionals
* Experience of liaison with networks supporting clients
* Experience of training others
* Experience of providing consultation, supervision and appraisal for others
Desirable criteria
* Experience of coordinated screening, assessment and recommendations that help drive specialist care plans
* Child and Adolescent Mental Health or Cared For Children experience
* Experience of providing assessments like Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF)
* Experience of providing consultation and feedback with recommendations to stakeholders
* Research, audit and development experience
* Contribution to service and staff development
* Previous experience within a senior clinical role
* Seeking and employing Lived Experience and Expert By Experience feedback to help develop services
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Evidence of knowledge of specialist area to comply with RCSLT guidelines
* Good working knowledge of all areas of clinical governance including quality, audit and risk management
* Proficiency in the use of computer technology and their application to clinical practice
* Advanced clinical reasoning skills
* Well established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
* Well established knowledge of relevant national and local policies, procedures and clinical guidelines (relevant to the client group)
* Well established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group)
* Understanding of roles of the other professionals (relevant to the client group)
* Knowledge of standards of clinical record keeping
* Good working knowledge of multidisciplinary and agency working
Desirable criteria
* Awareness of the health inequalities agenda for Cared for Children and Care Leavers – demonstrating knowledge of the speech, language and communication needs of children in care
* Value placed on working with Protected Characteristics
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy
* Ability to present information in a clear and logical way with engaging presentation skills
* Teaching, supervisory and appraisal skills
* Proven organisational skills including time management, effective delegation and prioritisation, and the ability to complete tasks
* Good analytical and reflective skills
* To work autonomously as a clinician
* Prioritisation skills and caseload management skills
* Able to work as part of a Team
* Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust policies of data protection and Health and Safety to meet the differing needs of the clients we serve
* Competencies to effectively communicate clearly in the language of the client or utilise support such as interpreters
* Ability to help contain and work with distress behaviours on the part of professionals, carers and children
Desirable criteria
* Capacity to work with others in a compassionate, relational and trauma-informed way
📝 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