Job summary
The postholder will have a key role in the new GM needs led model of care for Neurodivergent Children and Young People and will contribute to the development of the needs led offer of support across the city. This will require the post holder to have a strong understanding of the local offer and to manage a team who will be the first point of contact for queries around neurodivergence.
The post holder will lead a team of ND navigators and assistant navigators and have responsibility for the supervision and development of junior staff. They will ensure that the navigator team have good working relationships with local partners, promote neuro-affirmative practice and work to promote neurodivergent friendly communities in Manchester.
Main duties of the job
The navigator team will be responsible for supporting families and young people who are currently on the waiting list for autism and ADHD assessments. and those who are curious about neurodiversity with signposting to further information and available service provision. The team will support young autistic people and their families post assessment with queries about service provision. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the digital information available to families is up to date. The postholder will maintain strong links with the Parent Carer Forums and partner agencies in the locality including Education, Local Authority and the Voluntary Sector. Applicants with lived experience of neurodivergence are strongly urged to apply.
About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To 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 Supporting Documents heading. Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one stop 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 Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.Closing vacancy listings early We 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 MattersMFT 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 application Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor 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 applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To 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 Supporting Documents heading. Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one stop 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 Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.Closing vacancy listings early We 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 MattersMFT 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 application Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor 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 applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You must have qualifications which indicate a good level of literacy and have good IT awareness; however, for this role, having attitudes, beliefs and values which fully support neurodiversity is the most significant attribute.
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing personal development and the willingness to undertake further training
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of autism/ADHD
- Experience of understanding how to communicate with neurodivergent children and young people and their families
- Experience of team working and ability to work alongside neurotypical and neurodiverse colleagues in the workplace
Desirable
- Experience of working with autistic children and their families in a voluntary or professional capacity
- Experience of managing telephone queries in a calm, composed and professional manner
- Experience of advocacy
- Experience of delivering training
Knowledge, Skills and Ability.
Essential
- Understanding of the principles of Clinical and Information Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures
- Understanding of Trust safeguarding procedures
- Ability to present written information concisely and clearly
- Ability to present verbal information concisely and clearly
- Excellent organisational skills
- Completer- finisher - able to follow tasks through to a conclusion
- Ability to prioritise tasks
- Excellent IT skills, including the ability to use virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams
- Awareness of the challenges faced by young autistic people and their families and willingness to empathise with these challenges
- Willingness to adapt communication style to meet the needs of a neurotypical and a neurodivergent audience
Desirable
- Understanding of the Local Offer and how it applies to autistic children and young people and their families
- Knowledge of statutory processes (e.g. EHCP processes)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You must have qualifications which indicate a good level of literacy and have good IT awareness; however, for this role, having attitudes, beliefs and values which fully support neurodiversity is the most significant attribute.
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing personal development and the willingness to undertake further training
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of autism/ADHD
- Experience of understanding how to communicate with neurodivergent children and young people and their families
- Experience of team working and ability to work alongside neurotypical and neurodiverse colleagues in the workplace
Desirable
- Experience of working with autistic children and their families in a voluntary or professional capacity
- Experience of managing telephone queries in a calm, composed and professional manner
- Experience of advocacy
- Experience of delivering training
Knowledge, Skills and Ability.
Essential
- Understanding of the principles of Clinical and Information Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures
- Understanding of Trust safeguarding procedures
- Ability to present written information concisely and clearly
- Ability to present verbal information concisely and clearly
- Excellent organisational skills
- Completer- finisher - able to follow tasks through to a conclusion
- Ability to prioritise tasks
- Excellent IT skills, including the ability to use virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams
- Awareness of the challenges faced by young autistic people and their families and willingness to empathise with these challenges
- Willingness to adapt communication style to meet the needs of a neurotypical and a neurodivergent audience
Desirable
- Understanding of the Local Offer and how it applies to autistic children and young people and their families
- Knowledge of statutory processes (e.g. EHCP processes)
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.
Applications 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).
Additional information
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.
Applications 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).
