Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

This role has a competitive starting salary of 40,762 for five days a week across 42 weeks of the year, based on a 36 hour working week. Part time opportunities are also available.

Are you an enthusiastic, Speech and Language Therapist with over two years' experience who would like to develop skills in SLDD, PMLD and Dysphagia, whilst also having the opportunity to work with a caseload in another area of clinical expertise or interest?

We can offer an exciting opportunity to join our skilled, supportive, and solution-focused team. The role will involve working 2-3 days a week at Portesbery School with a team of other Therapists and Assistants.

Rewards and Benefits

• 42-week contract, working across term-time and an additional, flexible 15 days for CPD, project work and supervision activities as well as 10 weeks holiday in non-term time
• Comprehensive clinical supervision programme including a buddy, 1:1 meetings with line manager, extensive in house training programme and formal external training opportunities, access to clinical effectiveness groups, case study groups and enhanced probation support, termly whole-team study days, encouragement to join and attend CEN's relating to practice
• Opportunities to develop management skills by taking on line management of assistants or experienced autonomous therapists and taking students. Training and support is provided
• Paid RCSLT membership and HCPC fees
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

The Speech and Language Therapy Service is part of Surrey County Council's local offer to support the special educational needs and disabilities of children and young people within mainstream schools and specialist provision. This Service is part of the Inclusion & Additional Needs Team in Surrey's Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Directorate, and as such works collaboratively with other teams such as Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers and SEN teams.

The Surrey SLT service is a large team (over 150) of both qualified Therapists and non-qualified Therapy Assistants. We have excellent supervision and CPD models plus a rolling in-house training programme; we are committed to continuous learning and development. We champion our team and one of our Therapists was voted People's Choice in the Surrey Stars Awards, receiving over 500 votes showing just how well the service is regarded in the organisation!

We are a forward thinking service and were involved with the RCSLT and Reading University around the dysphagia competences linked to student placements.

We aim to deliver the right support at the right time, through assessment and intervention; equipping families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to support children with SLCN. We offer universal, targeted and specialist support for children, families, and the school workforce; working with children and young people with EHCPs and those at SEN support following Surrey's Graduated Response. We also have a specialist dysphagia service and specialist deaf service.

About the Role

Your main duties in the role of Speech and Language Therapist will include:

• Clinical decision making in conjunction with school / college staff around the level of support needed to achieve the best possible outcome for the children and young people on your defined caseload
• Working with speech and language therapy assistants, setting targets for the children and young people they are supporting, and monitoring of the delivery and outcomes of their work
• Assessment, advice and intervention for children with a range of speech, language and communication needs within your caseload. For children and young people on your caseload who are considered to have complex needs and where a joint multidisciplinary approach is essential to achieving the best outcome for these children and young people, you will be supported by your clinical team leader
• Supporting junior members of the team, line managing others and taking on students
• Contributing to and delivering training for schools and others in the team

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:

• A degree in Speech and Language Therapy with a minimum of two years' experience working as an SLT, with completed NQP competencies
• HCPC and RCSLT registration, with permission to work in the UK
• A working knowledge of the English education system including the National Curriculum and SEND code of practice
• Experience of supporting and training others including newly qualified Therapists, Assistants, students and work experience placements
• Evidence of a range of evidence based interventions used to support children and young people

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Therapy staff will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel as required. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

As part of your application you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Are you registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Do you have a minimum of two years' experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist with completed NQP competencies? Please answer 'yes' or 'no' as appropriate. If you answer 'no' please provide further details.
• Do you have working knowledge of the English education system including the National Curriculum and SEND code of practice? Please tell us more about this including how have you have gained this knowledge.
• Please briefly describe a speech and language strategy or approach that you have supported staff or children to successfully use in the classroom. How did you measure its success?

The closing date for this advert is 23:59 Sunday 21st September although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may interview candidates in advance of the closing date, therefore we encourage an early application.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

When your employment begins, you will need to be a member of the RCSLT and HCPC.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.