Head of Service

Head of Service

The closing date is 20 January 2026

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 organisations 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.

Main duties of the job

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 maximise impact.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000+ strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services and 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.

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 or email .

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent level or significant relevant experience
• Professional Healthcare registration specific to the service
• Management Qualification
• ECDL / ITQ

Skills & Experience

• Previous recent operational experience
• Ability to manage work autonomously
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries and with external partners
• Extensive experience of service area in paediatric SLCN
• Experience of liaison and management of contracts
• Innovative practice e and leading on changes within the service
• Excellent presentation skills
• Data analysis
• Change management

Management Skills

• Proven leadership, service development, quality improvement, risk management, financial acumen, and team development (mentoring, training)
• Leadership: Visionary, strategic thinking, influencing, motivating, conflict resolution, inter-professional collaboration, and change management
• Technical: Proficiency in relevant IT, data analysis, and audit
• Analytical: Critical thinking, problem solving

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year, pro rata