Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Team Lead Dysphagia

The starting salary for this position is £52,529 - £56,388 per annum, inclusive of market supplement (NHS Band 7 equivalent) for working 36 hours per week, across 42 weeks of the year, pro-rata to £56,698 - £60,864.

Our innovative, supportive and outcome- focused Surrey Schools Speech and Language Therapy Team have an exciting new opportunity for a Clinical Team Lead/ Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our fantastic team in the East of Surrey, where you will lead on the operational and strategic development of our dysphagia services to our specialist and mainstream schools.

For prospective candidates currently working in the NHS, this Clinical Team Lead position is equivalent to a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist role.

Our offer to you

• 42-week term time contract, with flexible working options around school core hours
• Paid RCSLT membership and HCPC fees
• Belonging to a team of students, therapists and assistants led by a Therapies Manager who is an SLT
• 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, and encouragement to join and attend CEN’s relating to practice
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carers 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 Us

The School-Aged Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service is part of Surrey’s offer to support the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities of children and young people within mainstream schools and specialist provision. The Service is part of the Early Intervention and Prevention Service in Surrey’s Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate, working collaboratively with other teams such as Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers and Team around the School. We are a large team (over 200) of both qualified therapists and non-qualified therapy assistants, with excellent supervision and CPD models available to you.

Our aim is for children and young people with speech, language, communication and dysphagia needs to receive the right support at the right time. We do this through assessment and intervention, equipping families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to help and support children with SLCN. We work with children and young people with EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plan) and those at SEN (Special Education Needs) support.

As a Clinical Team Lead, key responsibilities include:

• Holding your own specialist clinical caseload and will provide clinical supervision and line management to members of the SLT Team and support with second opinions, observation, training and shadowing opportunities for colleagues.
• Providing high quality dysphagia supervision e.g. supporting therapists through their dysphagia competencies.
• Working with colleagues across Surrey to ensure the wider team is informed of current research and evidence base, and that clinical practice is of high quality and reflects the research and evidence base.
• Working with management on the operational and strategic development of services to our schools across Surrey.

Your management accountabilities include working alongside the other Team Leads to support and develop an enthusiastic and friendly team who work in mainstream and specialist schools as well as supporting student placements.

Through a joined up approach with colleagues across Surrey, you will ensure the wider team is informed of current research and evidence base, and that clinical practice is of high quality.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your application will clearly evidence:

• A BSc (Hons) degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered membership of the Health and Care Professions Council and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Speech and language therapist background with at least 5 years post graduate experience, and Specialist level Dysphagia competency (5.4 Advanced level on the EDS competencies)
• A working knowledge of the English education system including the National Curriculum and SEND code of practice.
• Experience of line managing and supporting others including newly qualified therapists, assistants, and student placements
• Experience of working within an effective multidisciplinary team
• Experience of training and positively influencing practice in large staff teams
• A continuing commitment to learning and development of self and others with regard to evidence base and research
• Evidence of strong organisation and prioritisation skills
• Evidence of building and establishing relationships with families and education providers

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 3 questions:

1. Do you have specialist skills in the area of dysphagia? Tell us more about how you gained these skills.
2. Please tell us about any experience of line managing and supporting others including newly qualified therapists, assistants, students and work experience placements?
3. Please tell us about any experience you have of working with families and others in complex situations? Please provide a supporting example.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and candidates will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. 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.

This role is subject to an online / social media check as part of our safer recruitment processes, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

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.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 18/10/26 although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may shortlist in advance of closing date. We therefore encourage an early application.

Interviews will take place on 22/10/26 or 23/10/26.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Rachel.brown@surreycc.gov.uk

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is East Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.