Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The starting salary for this position is £39,786 per annum (NHS Band 7 equivalent) for working 28.8 hours per week, across 42 weeks of the year, pro-rata to £53,680, inclusive of Market Supplement.

We are delighted to be able to offer a new Clinical Team Lead / Highly Specialist post in the North West of Surrey working within the areas of ASD and SEMH.

Rewards and Benefits

• Flexible working options
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Paid fees for RCSLT membership and HCPC
• Mobile and agile working solutions
• Ongoing CPD opportunities including termly Study Days and for specialist teams access to external training and supervision
• A structured supervision model including regular 1:1 supervision and peer supervision
• A generous local government pension scheme to provide you with a secure and guaranteed future income
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing tools to support your mental and emotional well-being, including our free confidential Employee Assistance Programme, a range of mental health apps and support for staff in crisis
• Lifestyle benefits: access to a huge range of discounted vouchers and memberships

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 Inclusion and Additional Needs Team in Surrey's Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate, working collaboratively with other teams such as Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers, REMA and Behaviour Support.

We are a large team (over 150) of both qualified Therapists and non-qualified Therapy Assistants, with excellent supervision and CPD models. We work across the four geographical quadrants of Surrey, each managed by a Quadrant Lead. The teams in each quadrant are made up of Therapists and Assistants. There are a team of Highly Specialist / Clinical Team Leads in each geographical area who work together to support the team and support service development.

Our aim is for children and young people with speech, language and communication 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.

About the Role

As a Highly Specialist SLT / Clinical Team Lead you will hold your own specialist clinical caseload in the area of ASD and SEMH, and provide secondary opinions for others in the team in both specialist and mainstream settings.

You will also be involved in the following:

• You will have a management role in the North West SLT Team which includes working alongside the other Team Leads to support and develop an enthusiastic and friendly team who work in mainstream and specialist schools
• Through a joint up approach with colleagues across Surrey, you will ensure the wider team is informed of current research and evidence base in the areas of ASD and SEMH, and that clinical practice is of high quality
• Provide clinical supervision and line management to members of the SLT Team and support with second opinions, observation, training and shadowing opportunities for colleagues
• Support student placements
• Work with management on the operational and strategic development of services to our schools across Surrey
• Provide advice at educational panels

Shortlisting Criteria

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 with permission to work in the UK
• At least 5 years post graduate experience, and specific experience of working within schools
• 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, students and work experience placements
• Experience of working within an effective multidisciplinary team
• Experience of training and positively influencing practice in large staff teams
• Continuing commitment to learning and development of self and others with regard to evidence base and research

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

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 13th October 2024 with interviews planned for 21st and 22nd October 2024.

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.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.