About this role
Job summary
STW and SSOT ICB Cluster are searching for a Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Practitioner, as part of their work towards achieving the requirements in the National SEND reforms. This role will be aligned to the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB footprint. This is a strategic, population level, clinical Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) role focused on strengthening the SaLT workforce for education settings and system improvement. Operating across education, SEND local area partnerships and Integrated Care System in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW).
This exciting role forms a core part of the Experts at Hand initiative in the Government's SEND Reforms. Experts at Hand is designed to deliver earlier, needs-led access to multidisciplinary specialist support within mainstream education settings through integrated working between local authorities, ICBs and providers.
SaLT Advanced Practitioners will work strategically within local SEND partnerships, linking with the integrated care boards, local authorities, health providers, parent carer forums and education settings, as well as local universities offering speech and language therapy qualification routes.
This is a fixed term role for 12 months from commencement with the possibility of transition to a more permanent role. (Secondment options will be considered).
Main duties of the job
TheSaLT Advanced Practitioner (SaLT AP) will:
Provide strategic, population-level clinical SaLT leadership to improve outcomes for children and young people (0-25) with speech, language and communication needs
Strengthen the SaLT workforce pipeline across education settings through placements, apprenticeships and educator/supervisor/mentor capacity and capability
Increase access to SaLT expertise within mainstream education
Provide strategic, population-level SaLT leadership within the ICB footprint to enable delivery of SEND reform.
Work in partnership with commissioners and local SEND partnerships to support evidence-informed commissioning, service planning and system oversight, including contribution to local area SEND inspections
This role is explicitly aligned to the NHSEMulti-professional Framework for Advanced Practice (2025) The role requires effective working with education settings, local authorities and SEND partnerships, NHS and independent providers, Designated Clinical Officers, universities/training providers, Parent Carer Forums and CYP participation groups. A strong focus on co-production and inclusive system design is a core principle of the role.
About us
Our goal as a clustered ICB is to lead and support delivery of the four Integrated Care System (ICS) aims across the geographies of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent:
o Improving outcomes in population health and care
o Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access
o Enhancing productivity and value for money
o Helping the NHS to support broader social and economic development.
Please note that the Cluster ICB has consulted with its workforce on changes to contractual base locations and hybrid working arrangements and is implementing a consistent hybrid working model across the Cluster. The new arrangements are intended to support closer and more collaborative working across the Cluster ICB, through a consistent approach to hybrid working and the use of designated office locations.
Job description Job responsibilities
The SaLT AP will work to increase access to high-quality SaLT expertise within mainstream education settings. They will:
Build a sustainable SaLT workforce in education by working with training providers and mainstream education settings to expand trainee placements in education settings, develop supervision models and SaLT career pathways to mainstream education settings.
Strengthen inclusive mainstream education by working with delivery partners and mainstream settings to enable earlier identification and support for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), improving pupil outcomes and educational participation.
Operate as a strategic leader, they will work with education settings, local authorities and other SEND partners to support the delivery of SEND reform.
Use data, system insight and evaluation to, shape scalable, solutions to develop SaLT workforce pipeline for mainstream education settings and system development.
The principal responsibilities are aligned to the Four Pillars of Advanced Practice:
1: Education, Training and Workforce Development
Provide innovative strategic clinical leadership and influence for education and workforce development.
2: Professional Leadership
Operate as a system leader across education, health and care.
3: Expert Clinical Practice
Provide senior clinical expertise and system-level clinical leadership in SLCN.
4: Research, Audit and Improvement
Provide strategic leadership for evaluation, audit and quality improvement.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience Essential
Educated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area HCPC registered Speech and Language Therapist Evidence of advanced level practice aligned to NHSE framework (or working towards this) Commitment to achieve MSc Advanced Practice (relevant to the sector) or NHSE portfolio if not already held. Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development Member of a relevant professional body / RCSLT membership Leadership, education or system development qualifications
Desirable
Leadership, education or system development qualifications
Specialist knowledge Essential
Significant experience of and clinical expertise in SaLT practice and working with CYP in education settings (0-25) Experience of working with CYP with a broad range of need Experience of workforce development (students, apprentices, support roles) Experience of co-production with CYP and families Experience and understanding of SEND Reform, mainstream schools and education systems.
Desirable
Experience developing placements or apprenticeships. Experience in SEND system improvement Awareness of and experience in population level health approaches and emerging policy Experience of working with a broad range of mainstream education settings Knowledge of workforce development models and commissioning
Leadership & Strategic experience Essential
Proven and significant leadership experience. Evidence of system-level working and leadership Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations
Desirable
Understanding of governance and quality assurance frameworks
Role specific skills Essential
Advanced clinical expertise in SEND and education settings Strong system leadership and influencing capability. Strong influencing and partnership skills Ability to work across organisational boundaries and manage complexity. Ability to lead learning, supervision and culture change
Communication Skills Essential
Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change. Skilled communicator with diverse audiences
Planning Skills Essential
Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Desirable
Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board
Address Wellington
Shropshire/Telford
TF1 1LX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)