Combined Healthcare, alongside other organisations within the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System, is looking for organisations that are key contributors to serving our community’s health and social needs for our local population who would be interested in providing stretch placements for the 2026-2027 cohort of the High Potential Scheme (HPS).
Stretch placements would commence around September 2026, scheduled to last several months and can be undertaken as a block release, one day per week/fortnight release from substantive post – subject to individuals’ availability/flexibility. The assignment/project is intended to stretch the participants capabilities.
The High Potential Scheme is an NHS-backed initiative, aimed at mid-career system leaders which offers an inclusive accelerated talent scheme intended for those who aspire to progress to executive leadership in the next five to eight years. The scheme promotes different ways of working, networking across organisations / systems, gain system leadership knowledge and skills and support cultural change and learning from these opportunities to benefit the populations served.
There is no financial cost to the organisation as they are paid through their substantive organisation, therefore employment terms and conditions and contracts remain with the organisation of employment. However, the stretch placement requires the organisation to appoint a placement manager to induct and support the participant throughout their stretch placement and ensure the assignment/project is complex to provide significant learning opportunity to achieve development goals.
If you are interested in offering an opportunity or learning more, please contact SpokeHPS@mpft.nhs.uk.
Applications of support close on Tuesday 28 July 2026.
