Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

This role has a competitive starting salary of 41,955 - 45,244 per annum for five days a week (36 hours), across 42 weeks of the year.

Are you an enthusiastic qualified Speech and Language Therapist with over two years experience who would like to develop your skills in Autism? We have a great opportunity to join our skilled, supportive, and solution-focused team!

The South-West Surrey Speech and Language Therapy team are looking for two Therapists, one role will be working working in specialist autism schools and the other in SEMH schools and the Youth Justice service. You will work as part of a small team, including Therapists and Assistants, and be supported by a Team Lead with highly specialist skills. This post will be combined with your other clinical interests, including mainstream or dysphagia work.

Our Offer to You

• 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
• 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, 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 (NQPs who have completed competencies) and taking students. Training and support is provided
• Paid RCSLT membership and HCPC fees
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 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 Role

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 Early Intervention, Prevention and Support Service in Surrey's Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Directorate, and 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.

Your main duties in the role of Specialist 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

Your Application

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

• A degree in Speech and Language Therapy with a minimum of 2 years' experience working as an SLT with completed NQP competencies
• Registered with the HCPC and RCSLT, and eligible to work in the UK
• 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 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.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 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 on 03.05.2026 although we will be reviewing applications as they are received and may interview in advance of the closing date, therefore we encourage an early application.

We are a friendly team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about the work we do. If you feel like this could be the place to kick start your career or further develop your therapy skills and knowledge, please do get in touch.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.