Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The starting salary for this position is £32,780 per annum and is based on a 36 working hour week.

Surrey Schools SLT service is seeking innovative and outcome-focused Specialist Speech and Language Therapists (NHS band 6 equivalent), to work part time in our Youth Offending Service (YOS) and as a Specialist Therapist in another area of the service depending on personal clinical interests and experience.

• There is 1 post based in South East Surrey (covering Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge) and 1 post based in North West Surrey (covering Woking, Runnymede and Surrey Heath)
• The posts are for 52 weeks of the year, 42 week contracts (term time + 3 weeks in the school holidays) will also be considered
• Full or part time considered based on your experience and clinical interests.

The School-Aged Speech and Language Therapy Service is part of Surrey County Council’s local SEND offer, working collaboratively in the Inclusion & Additional Needs team in Surrey Children, Schools and Families Directorate, with other teams like educational psychology, and specialist teachers.

We aim to deliver the right support at the right time, through assessment and intervention, and equipping families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to help and support children with SLCN.  We offer universal, targeted and specialist support for children, families, and the school workforce, and work with children and young people with EHCPs and those at SEN support following Surrey’s Graduated Response.

We have therapists who have been working within the Youth Offending Service for the last 12 months and have seen some real impact of our involvement for those young people with language and communication difficulties.

We work in both mainstream and specialist provisions supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

Your main duties in the role of Specialist Speech and Language Therapist will include but not be limited to:

• Clinical decision making in conjunction with school staff around the level of support needed to achieve the best possible outcome for the children 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, you will be supported by your clinical team leader.
• Supporting junior members of the team, line managing others and taking on students.
• Training of other professional colleagues including but not limited to; school staff, police, youth workers, court staff.

We are looking for therapists who:

• Want to extend their clinical expertise and independent clinical decision making
• Are looking to support the development of the therapy team and service
• Have a recognised SLT degree in Speech and Language Therapy, completed their NQP competencies and ideally a minimum of 2 years’ experience working as an SLT
• Are registered with the HCPC and RCSLT, and have permission to work in the UK

We can offer you:

• Salary starting at £35,382 per annum – this is for five days a week, 52 weeks per year, 36 hours a week
• Flexible working options around school core hours
• Mobile and agile working solutions (laptop etc)
• 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, termly 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 PS8/Band 5 therapists and taking students. Training and support is provided.
• Local government salary-related pension offered, discounted child care vouchers, and the option to join the car lease scheme. For more information, please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff
• A mixed and varied caseload across settings and age groups
• A team of students, therapists and assistants led by a Therapies Manager who is a Speech and Language Therapist

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.

For more information please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

The closing date for this advert is 13th December 2021, although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may shortlist in advance of closing date. Interviews will take place the week commencing 13th December.

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion contact Sarah Lally by email at sarah.lally@surreycc.gov.uk.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.