Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Language Development Worker

The closing date is 13 August 2025

Job summary

The Manchester Speech and Language Therapy Service is committed to providing a high-quality service to children and families across the city of Manchester.

We are looking for an experienced, flexible and enthusiastic Language development worker to join the established Communication and Language Early years team in Manchester.

The focus of the established team has been to embed a citywide, multi-agency communication and language pathway to provide early identification and support for children with moderate language difficulties. This has been developed as part of Manchester's drive to improve children's school readiness and life outcomes.

This role is an exciting new public health initiative to further develop and deliver both the current support offered to early years children who have language difficulties and also an additional support program for very young children displaying social communication difficulties. This additional support is part of Manchester's Family Hub trailblazers offer.

You will be working as part of a supportive team of Speech and Language Therapists and Language Development Workers in a variety of locations including children's centers, family hubs, and children's home environment, to support early year's children and their families in developing early communication skills. Specialist training in supporting children with SLCN will be provided.

Main duties of the job

You will need an NVQ level3 in childcare or other relevant equivalent. You will have knowledge and understanding of children's early language development and a wide range of experience of working with children and their parents is essential.

The post holder will be sensitive to the needs of Manchester diverse population.

You will be required to work independently and as part of a multi-agency team.

This is a citywide service, so car driver is essential.

Manchester Speech and Language Therapy department provides opportunities for ongoing professional development. We have a large, well-established, and supportive department. We provide you with regular clinical supervision, protected time for CPD opportunities and special interest groups as well as support from an experienced team. We also offer a comprehensive induction programme, regular face to face meetings, and annual appraisals to develop knowledge and skills.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of over £3bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 30,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Details

Date posted

30 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-LCO-7370911*

Job locations

Woodville Children's Centre

Shirley Road

Manchester

M80NE


Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description 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 youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

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.

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description 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 youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

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.

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education or equivalent relevant qualification
  • Full Driving License

Skills, knowledge and understanding

Essential

  • Good theoretical knowledge of child development
  • Understanding of the implications of language impairment
  • Understanding of the issues affecting an inner city, multi-ethnic community
  • Ability to transport resources and equipment across the city

Desirable

  • To be a competent user of a variety of IT programs
  • Understanding the role of public health initiatives

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children 0-5 in a variety of settings
  • Experience of working as an effective team member
  • Experience of working in partnership with parents and other agencies

Desirable

  • Experience of working with early years children with language delay
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education or equivalent relevant qualification
  • Full Driving License

Skills, knowledge and understanding

Essential

  • Good theoretical knowledge of child development
  • Understanding of the implications of language impairment
  • Understanding of the issues affecting an inner city, multi-ethnic community
  • Ability to transport resources and equipment across the city

Desirable

  • To be a competent user of a variety of IT programs
  • Understanding the role of public health initiatives

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children 0-5 in a variety of settings
  • Experience of working as an effective team member
  • Experience of working in partnership with parents and other agencies

Desirable

  • Experience of working with early years children with language delay

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Woodville Children's Centre

Shirley Road

Manchester

M80NE


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Woodville Children's Centre

Shirley Road

Manchester

M80NE


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

Julie Ashworth

julie.ashworth@mft.nhs.uk

07966626759

Details

Date posted

30 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-LCO-7370911*

Job locations

Woodville Children's Centre

Shirley Road

Manchester

M80NE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)