Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

This role has a competitive starting salary of £41,955 - £45,244 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 a Speech and Language Therapist with 2+ years’ experience seeking to build on the specialist skills you’ve already started developing?

We can offer an exciting opportunity to join our skilled, supportive, and solution-focused team. We have opportunities to work with children with severe learning difficulties, complex social communication difficulties, developmental language disorder in a mix of specialist and mainstream settings.

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

You can find further information about other financial benefits available to you including professional fees, pension contributions and much more in the Total Reward Statement attached at the bottom of this advert.

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 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. 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.

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?

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.

The closing date for this advert is 23:59 Thursday 26th March 2026 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 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.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Sarah O'Driscoll by email at Sarah.O’Driscoll@surreycc.gov.uk

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 (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.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! 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 criteria, 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.