Job summaryPost: Band 7 Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist -Paediatric Dysphagia
Hours : 34.5 hours per week
Location: Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Do you have advanced or are working towards advanced level skills in paediatric dysphagia? We are looking for an experienced children's acute Speech and Language Therapist. The successful candidate will join our experienced & supportive team of 8 SLT's (6.86 wte) who provide the inpatient service for our neonatal, children and young people.
The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital is a Tertiary hospital which admits children from the North West of England. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team providing holistic care to patients in each acute setting.
Main duties of the jobThis post provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your skills in the assessment and management of children with feeding & communication difficulties within the acute setting. This will include assessment & management of infants and children with tracheostomy, children with metabolic conditions, children with rare & congenital conditions.
You will have significant experience working in Paediatric dysphagia ideally in an acute setting supported by Post Basic Dysphagia Qualification or equivalent. You must also have experience working with infants and children with special needs including pre-school & school aged children.
Knowledge of tracheostomy assessment & management and Videofluoroscopy are desirable.
There will be excellent in-house clinical support working alongside other experienced therapists.
This post is primarily a paediatric Dysphagia post but there may also be opportunities to work with paediatric complex and acquired communication disorders within the hospital setting.
About usJoin Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - a great place to shape your career.
With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year.Behind every patient cared for are people like you - keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.
At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high-quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others.At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you're part of something bigger from day one.
DetailsDate posted 05 August 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 7
Salary £49,387 to £56,515 a year
per annum (pro rata)
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Part-time
Reference number 349-CSS-8085849-RL4
Job locations Royal Manchester Childrens hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesIMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATIONTo find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the
Documents to download heading.
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Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access
Inside MFT Your Candidate Place , simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings earlyWe welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
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.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your applicationHere at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were 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.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checkAs part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
What is a DBS Check?A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
- Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
- Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
- Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.
Who Needs a DBS CheckMost roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
The Costs for a DBSAt Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december
DBS Update ServiceCandidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- oAccredited degree or equivalent Certificate to Practice (SLT)
- oCompletion of highly specialist accredited courses in dysphagia management
- oRegistered with HCPC (Health care Professionals Council)
Skills and knowledgeEssential- oHighly comprehensive applied theoretical knowledge and experience of the assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute dysphagia and neonates
- oEvidence of providing SLT interventions for feeding infants and children
- oExperience in the use of videofluoroscopy for paediatric dysphagia
- o Skilled in interpreting and communicating outcomes of SLT assessment /treatment plans to other professionals
ExperienceEssential- Significant experience of working within an acute hospital setting with children with feeding / swallowing problems and speech and language impairment
- Experience at specialist level in relevant field of paediatric dysphagia
- experience of working within a multi -disciplinary team
- Experience of line management/ clinical supervision for less experienced staff
- Good leadership experience and ability
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Manchester Childrens hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
Employer's website https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Clinical Lead for paediatric SLT
Mrs Caroline Hall
caroline.hall@mft.nhs.uk
01617012081
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. 
