Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Practitioner x2

STW and SSOT ICB Cluster are searching for two Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Practitioners, as part of their work towards achieving the requirements in the National SEND reforms. These roles will each be aligned to one of the ICB footprints, Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent or Shropshire Telford and Wrekin. 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 Systems in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (SSOT).

These exciting roles form 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 secondment for 12 months from commencement with the possibility of transition to a more permanent role.

• 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
• Provide innovative strategic clinical leadership and influence for education and workforce development across the system, working with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), providers and partners to strengthen workforce supply, capability and sustainability in Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT)

This role is explicitly aligned to the NHSE Multi ‑ 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.

The Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for planning functions; managing the NHS budget and arranging the provision of health services in the geographical area.

Location: Home based/hybrid working.

New starters are expected to collect IT equipment, from offices in Stoke-on-Trent, and if working from home are required to have appropriate desk/chair/ relevant equipment in compliance with DSE regulations.

Posts at Band 8c and above, will take part in the On-call rota, flexible over 7 days, supporting the System Control Centre, with full training provided.

Unconscious Bias/Invisible Disability Training and Equality Induction are mandatory.

Interviews may take place via MS Teams or in person.

We promote a compassionate and inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds. All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The ICB embrace the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and encourages applications from all individuals regardless of their age, disability, gender re-assignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation. It’s important that our workforce reflects the diversity of communities as much as possible .

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.