East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
Job summary
We are seeking experienced and innovative Speech and Language Therapists to provide locality leadership for the new Experts at Hand model across Bedfordshire and Luton. Working across education, early years and community settings, you will help develop an integrated universal, targeted and specialist offer that strengthens early identification, builds workforce capability and supports inclusive practice for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
Combining specialist clinical expertise with consultation, coaching, supervision, service improvement and system leadership, you will support EaH practitioners and the wider Speech and Language Therapy workforce to embed new ways of working. You will also maintain a small targeted-plus and specialist caseload for children and young people with more complex needs.
Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 17th August 2026
Main duties of the job
Working with the Experts at Hand Strategic Lead and wider Speech and Language Therapy service, the post holder will:
Provide clinical and locality leadership for implementation of the Experts at Hand model within a defined area.
Work with SaLT Locality Leads and multidisciplinary partners to develop an integrated universal, targeted and specialist offer across education, early years and community settings.
Act as a senior clinical resource, providing specialist advice, consultation, second opinions and collaborative problem-solving.
Lead consultation, coaching, training and communication-environment audits to strengthen the graduated response and build workforce capability.
Coproduce, implement and evaluate targeted interventions at individual, group and whole-setting level.
Provide clinical supervision and competency development for SaLTs, Support Practitioners and apprentices.
Maintain a small targeted-plus and specialist caseload, undertaking assessment, differential diagnosis, intervention and outcome evaluation for children and young people with complex communication needs.
Participate in locality multidisciplinary and Team Around the School arrangements, working with children, families and partners.
Contribute to workforce planning, quality improvement and service evaluation, using activity and outcome data to demonstrate impact and develop the model.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Evidence of successful completion of short specialist courses
- Leadership gained through experience
- Degree or Post graduate equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registered Member of HPC
Desirable
- ELKLAN training
- Leadership training/qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with children and young people in education or community settings
- Experience working at universal and targeted levels of intervention
- Experience of multi-agency working
- Experience of co-production with children and young people, families and key stakeholders
Desirable
- Experience of managing people and performance including implementing improvement plans
- Experience in service development or quality improvement
- Experience working in high deprivation / diverse communities
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Knowledge of national SEND reforms and inclusion agenda
- Knowledge of universal, targeted and specialist approaches to meeting speech, language and communication needs within education, early years and community settings
- Knowledge of outcome measurement, quality improvement and evaluation approaches relevant to integrated service development
- Knowledge and experience of co-production with parents/carers and other key stakeholders
- Ability to provide consultation, coaching, training and constructive challenge.
- Ability to influence, negotiate and build effective relationships across organisational boundaries.
Closing Date: 26 August 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.