Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Team Lead

We are delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for a full time Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Team Lead post in the West of Surrey. We are particularly looking for someone to lead the clinical team at Freemantles School in Woking. Freemantles is an Outstanding (OFSted rating 2023) school for children with complex social and communication difficulties.

This position has a starting salary of £56,142 per annum pro-rata to £52,013.92 (NHS Band 7 equivalent) for working 36 hours per week across 42 weeks of the year, inclusive of market supplement.

Our Offer to You:

• Flexible working options around school core hours
• Paid fees for RCSLT membership and HCPC
• Mobile and agile working solutions (laptop, iPhone, online resources and assessments)
• A team of students, therapists and assistants led by a Therapies Manager who is a SLT
• 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 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, Prevention and Support Service in Surrey’s Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate, working collaboratively with other teams such as Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers and SEND colleagues.

We are a large team (over 150) of both qualified Therapists and non-qualified Therapy Assistants, with excellent supervision and CPD models. We currently 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 at Freemantles school, and provide clinical support and secondary opinions for others in the team in the school and also the wider team.

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. This role requires a high level of organisational and prioritisation skills and an ability to develop these skills in others.

Through a joint 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.

In this role, you will also be involved in:

• Providing clinical supervision and line management to members of the SLT Team and support with second opinions, observation, training and shadowing opportunities for colleagues

Supporting student placements

Working with management on the operational and strategic development of services to our schools across Surrey

Providing advice at educational panels

Contributing to tribunals as a representative for the local authority

Your Application  

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

• 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
• 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
• Evidence of experience of line managing and supporting others including newly qualified therapists, assistants, students and work experience placements
• Evidence of experience of working within an effective multidisciplinary team
• Evidence of experience of training and positively influencing practice in large staff teams

Evidence of a continuing commitment to learning and development of self and others with regard to evidence base and research

Evidence of leadership experience and the ability to manage competing demands

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and respond to our 4 application questions:

• Are you registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and have permission to work in the UK?
• Do you have a minimum of five years’ experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist with knowledge of the English Education System including the National Curriculum and SEND code of practice?
• Please tell us about your working knowledge of the English education system including the National Curriculum and SEND code of practice and how you have gained this knowledge.
• Please tell us about your leadership skills and experience with particular reference to how you have you balanced competing leadership tasks with clinical demands?
  
  
  

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.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook

to get an insight into working at Surrey.

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

The closing date for this advert is 23:59 Sunday 15th February 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.

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.