Experts at Hand Clinical-Operational Lead Speech and Language Therapy

Job summary
Shape the future of SEND support across Buckinghamshire

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and innovative Speech and Language Therapist to lead the Speech and Language Therapy contribution to Buckinghamshire's new Experts at Hand programme, a key element of the national SEND reform agenda.

As the Experts at Hand Clinical & Operational Lead , you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing and delivering a transformational service that strengthens inclusive practice across mainstream education settings. Working collaboratively with the Local Authority, Integrated Care Board, schools and wider system partners, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure children and young people receive timely, needs-led support through a graduated approach.

This is a unique opportunity to influence service development at a system level while maintaining your professional expertise and shaping the future Speech and Language Therapy workforce within SEND services.

Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Head of Service for CYP Integrated Therapy Services, you will:

• Lead the strategic, operational and clinical delivery of the Speech and Language Therapy element of the Experts at Hand programme.
• Drive service innovation and continuous improvement in line with national SEND reforms.
• Work collaboratively with senior leaders across health, education and social care.
• Lead and develop a team of Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and Therapy Assistants.
• Provide expert advice, consultation and clinical leadership for complex situations.
• Monitor service performance, outcomes and quality standards.
• Manage resources effectively and contribute to budget management.
• Lead workforce development, supervision, training and succession planning.
• Represent the service at local, regional and national forums.

About us
Why colleagues think we are"a great place to work!"?

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact View email address on meeveem.com (Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Details
Date posted: 25 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number: 434-CR8232493
Job locations: Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on View email address on meeveem.com quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification
Education, qualifications and training
Essential

• Degree or Diploma (Speech and Language Therapy)
• Professional registration with HCPC.
• Member RCSLT.
• Post graduate clinical/ management qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level
• Significant demonstrable experience of and demonstrable achievement in managing education/ health/social care services

Values
Essential

• Communicates openly, honestly and professionally, and actively promotes team working and building strong working relationships
• Patients are always first. Drives service improvements. Strong self-awareness with a desire to grow.
• Treats all with compassion and kindness. Ensures everyone feels valued.
• Consults others and listens to their views/opinions. Enables others to take the initiative

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience providing highly specialist speech and language therapy interventions to children and young people with complex needs
• Experience of operational and/or clinical leadership of a therapy service or team
• Experience of line management, including appraisal, performance and professional development of staff
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with education, local authority, health and other stakeholders in the redesign of services
• Experience of effectively leading and implementing change and service transformation
• Experience of budget management / management of resources
• Experience of managing complaints, disputes, resolutions and/or Serious Incidents
• Experience of working and coproducing within, or in close partnership with, education and early years settings and of SEND / EHCP processes

SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Highly expert knowledge and skills in speech, language and communication needs in children and young people
• Advanced knowledge of current legislation, the SEND Code of Practice, the graduated approach and the national SEND reform / Experts at Hand programme, spanning education and health
• Ability to provide strategic and operational leadership and to translate national policy into local delivery
• Highly developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills, including the ability to manage complex and contentious information
• Ability to analyse and interpret Key Performance Indicators, activity and outcome data to drive improvement
• Ability to plan, organise and adjust a broad, complex range of activities across multiple partners and settings
• Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management and safeguarding, and their application in practice
• Compassionate, inclusive leadership skills and the ability to motivate, develop and support staff

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential

• Ability to travel to other sites and settings across Buckinghamshire - access to own transport
• Ability to work flexibly across sites and to attend system and partnership meetings as required

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Address: Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of Service CYP Integrated Therapies, Fiona Barry, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.