Advanced Practitioner Childrens Speech and Language Therapist (ELSEC)

NHS; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A community health service provider is looking for a qualified Speech and Language Therapist for a part-time role in the West Midlands. The position involves clinical leadership in the Early Language Support for Every Child programme, aimed at improving outcomes for children with speech, language and communication needs. Applicants should possess a Speech and Language Therapy Degree and relevant experience with children. This fixed-term role offers flexible working arrangements and a salary of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum.

Qualifications

• Holds recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist courses up to Master’s Degree or equivalent.
• Significant experience at post-graduate level with children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Be part of the ELSEC leadership team; implementing and evaluating the programme.
• Provide clinical leadership and work in close partnership with professionals.
• Responsible for clinical and best practice issues in early years and schools.

Skills

Speech and Language Therapy

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent

Health Professions Council license to practice

Member of RCSLT Clinical Excellence Networks

Leadership or Management Training

Job description

Job Summary

Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) is a 2-year pathfinder programme from DE / NHSE, funding innovative workforce models to improve outcomes for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in early years and primary, commenced in 2024. ELSEC is led by a Band 8a Children's SLT, supported by Band 7 SLT roles, and an Education Lead, based in Telford and Wrekin Council as a chosen pathfinder. The ELSEC team is shaping the delivery model, with parents, education settings and Family Hubs, building on our roll out of Talk Boost, our whole school training offer and drawing on our work with Speech and Language UK. In Phase 2 and 3 ELSEC will employ up to 10 higher level teaching assistants. Their line management, and supervision will be provided by the programme leads. Both SLTs and the Education lead will also work directly with children. The programme is seeking to develop a career pipeline for people interested in working with children with SLCN. The leadership team is supported by, and report to the local ELSEC Partnership Board, and the National Change Programme. This is an opportunity to shape the future for children with SLCN. If you are interested in prevention, early intervention, workforce development and measuring impact, please contact us about this role. For more information about the Change Programme: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Responsibilities

• To be part of the ELSEC leadership team; implementing, developing, and evaluating the programme in line with the agreed service specifications.
• To provide clinical leadership for the programme for children with Universal and Targeted Speech, Language and Communication Needs. To work in close partnership with other professionals and organisations to deliver a public health model of care, making a significant contribution to improving health, social and education outcomes, and reducing inequalities in access to services.
• To be responsible for issues relating to clinical and best practice in early years and schools, together with the programme lead and specialist Teacher role.
• To undertake highly specialist management of young children with speech, language and communication difficulties within early years, and primary mainstream settings, working with practitioners in those settings and with families.
• To undertake specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the children and to be highly effective in case management.
• To share knowledge and skills with families and other professionals.
• To promote speech, language and communication as an interesting and fulfilling career choice and support staff working in the programme and beyond to consider their options for future training, learning and development.

About Us

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust provides community-based health services for adults and children in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and some services in surrounding areas too. These range from district nursing, health visiting and running four community hospitals through to providing very specialist community care through talented and dedicated staff. Patients, carers and the public play a vital role in helping us to develop and improve our services and we are constantly looking for ways to work with local communities, patients and the public to innovate and improve. Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust is an exciting place to work. It offers a wide range of employment opportunities for many people. Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust positively encourages applications from all areas of the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. We are committed to ensuring people who work for the community trust have a good working life - and a good work life/home life balance.

Details

Date posted: 25 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change | Band: Band 7 | Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum / pro rata | Contract: Fixed term | Duration: 10 months | Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working | Reference number: 825-7411753-OPS

Job Description

Job responsibilities: Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for further information on the role. Please note this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received, we advise you submit your application early to avoid disappointment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Holds recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist courses up to Master’s Degree or equivalent, or advanced experiential training within specialism.
• Holds Health Professions Council license to practice.
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Member of RCSLT Clinical Excellence Networks
• Leadership or Management Training or willingness to complete NHS recognised programme up to Masters level.

Experience

• Significant experience at post-graduate level working with children and young people with a range of speech, language and communication needs.
• Extensive experience of working in partnership with education staff in early years/school settings supporting children with a range of needs.
• Extensive experience at post-graduate level of using, analysing and reporting findings from a variety of tests and formal/informal assessments.
• Extensive experience of delivering specialist training which might include accredited packages such as Elklan, Makaton or Parent and setting coaching such as Early Bird /+.
• Experience of supporting/managing Speech and Language Therapy and /or other health colleagues through line management, mentoring/coaching.

Knowledge and Skills

• Highly specialist knowledge of different therapeutic assessments, interventions and techniques and ability to evaluate and report their effectiveness.
• Excellent analytical and reflective skills.
• Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills.
• Excellent organisation, negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy.
• Extensive knowledge of national policies and procedures pertinent to the Speech and language Therapy profession and education.
• Competent IT skills to enable to exchange of information and collection and collation of data.

Other

• Meet the travel requirements of the post

Disclosure

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. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants are also subject to this requirement. Guidance: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Stepping Stones Centre, Brunel Road, Malinslee, TF3 2BF. Website: https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/