Speech And Language Therapy Team Lead

This role has a starting salary of £43,923 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

Are you keen to be part of a well-established and dynamic team of SLTs who work in the field of deafness? We are excited to be hiring a new Team Lead to join our fantastic Speech & Language Therapy team based in Weybridge.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Therapist to become one of two Team Leads for our specialist team and have responsibility for managing the preschool and mainstream aspects of this service in Surrey. The role includes working closely with peripatetic Teachers of the Deaf and developing joint clinical initiatives.

In this role, you will support your own caseload of preschool deaf children and will supervise members of the specialist SLT team including those working with deaf children in mainstream and in Specialist Resource Bases. The role also involves providing line management and training for members of the wider SLT team.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• 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 plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources!

About the Team

The Speech and Language Therapy 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. You will work collaboratively with other teams such as Physical and Sensory Support, Educational Psychology, REMA and Specialist Teachers.

The main function and aim of the service is help and support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs through assessment and intervention, equipping families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to achieve positive outcomes.

The SLT service in Surrey works within four geographical quadrants, each managed by a Quadrant Lead, made up of a skill mix of Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.

Specialist Service for Deaf Children

A team of seven Specialist SLTs provide a comprehensive Surrey wide service for school aged deaf children and young people in mainstream schools and 5 Specialist Resource Bases across the County.

We have regular specialist team meetings and supervision opportunities to share knowledge and expertise of working in this field. Team members are encouraged to be part of service wide initiatives such as the development of a BSL offer, the implementation of training for mainstream Link SLTs and newly qualified TODs, and providing support for Surrey's Preschool Group for deaf children.

Therapists specialising in deafness belong to the wider Surrey SLT Service and work alongside SLTs and SLT Assistants from other disciplines enabling the development and sharing of clinical skills.

About the Role

The key objectives of this role are:

• To oversee the SLT service for preschool deaf children and those in mainstream settings across Surrey
• To work closely with Advisory Teachers of the Deaf to manage a caseload of preschool deaf children and their families in the community in a specified area of Surrey
• To provide second opinions, observation and support, training and shadowing opportunities to colleagues. This will include supporting Link SLTs in mainstream with deaf children on their caseloads.
• To represent the service at tribunals by presenting strong evidence-based practices.
• Working with other professionals in the field of deafness across Surrey and in tertiary settings to ensure that clinical practice is of high quality, reflecting the relevant evidence base and that the wider team is informed of and trained in current research principles.
• To initiate and contribute to clinical and multi-disciplinary projects related to deafness

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Speech and Language Therapist background with at least 5 years post graduate experience, and advanced knowledge and skills of working with deaf young people including: additional Postgraduate Training (for example CSD Working with Deaf People Part 1 and Part 2), British Sign Language Signature Exam Level 1 (essential) & significant post qualification experience of providing Speech and Language Therapy to deaf children and their families
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum and Code of Practice and experience in working within a universal, targeted and specialist model of delivery
• 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 with experience of line managing and supporting others
• A BSc (Hons) degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy, Registered membership of the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 19th February 2024 with interviews to follow.