Highly Specialist Speech And Language Therapist

We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a Highly Experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our leadership team in the North West of Surrey!

The starting salary for this position is £49,733 (NHS Band 7 equivalent) for working 36 hours per week, across 42 weeks of the year (inclusive of market supplement). We will also consider applicants who would like to work 28.80 hours week for 42 weeks a year.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to lead on working in our Specialist Schools for Children with Learning and Additional Needs (LAN) in the North West of Surrey. This includes working for two days a week at Philip Southcote School in Addlestone.

Rewards and Benefits

• Flexible working options
• Paid fees for RCSLT membership and HCPC
• Mobile and agile working solutions
• Ongoing CPD opportunities including termly Study Days, access to external supervision as well as access to a comprehensive Leadership Programme
• A structured supervision model including regular 1:1 supervision and peer supervision
• A generous local government pension scheme
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more

About the Team

The School-Aged SLT Service is part of Surrey's local 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.

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 our universal offer of advice, signposting and training, a targeted offer of modelling and coaching and specialist assessment and intervention for those needing this level of support. We aim to equip families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to help and support children with SLCN.

About the Role

You will lead the team of Therapists and Assistants working at Philip Southcote School in Addlestone for two days a week. Philip Southcote is a large specialist secondary school that has recently expanded with satellite centres in some local mainstream schools. We have a strong on-site presence in the school with a team of three other Therapists and two assistants. You will hold your own specialist caseload as part of this role.
You will also oversee the provision and staffing in our other LAN secondary schools: Carwarden House School and The Park School, ensuring that our offer is equitable across all three schools.

You will have a management role in the North West and join six other Team Leads in supporting and developing an enthusiastic and friendly team who work in mainstream and specialist schools across the area. Through a joint up approach with colleagues across Surrey, you will ensure the wider team is informed of current research and evidence base relating to LAN, and that clinical practice is of high quality.

In your role you 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. You will work with management on the operational and strategic development of services to our schools across Surrey.

You will also provide advice at educational panels.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence:

• SLT background with at least 5 years post graduate experience, specifically within schools, particularly supporting pupils in Secondary and pupils with Learning and Additional Needs
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum and Code of Practice and experience in working within a tiered model of support e.g. Balance Model
• Experience of working within an effective multidisciplinary team
• Flexibility to adapt both clinical approach and communication style to ensure that assessment, reports, therapy inputs and outcomes are functional and client centred
• Experience of training and positively influencing practice in large staff teams and line managing / supporting others
• A continuing commitment to learning and development of self and others particularly with regard to the evidence base and research
• 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

The job advert closes on 30th June 2024 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.