About this role
Job summary
The starting salary for this position is £52,529 - £56,388 per annum, inclusive of market supplement (NHS Band 7 equivalent) for working 36 hours per week, across 42 weeks of the year, pro-rata to £56,698 - £60,864.
Our Surrey Schools Speech and Language Therapy Team have an exciting new opportunity for a Clinical Team Lead/ Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our team in East of Surrey, where you will lead on the operational and strategic development of our dysphagia services to our specialist and mainstream schools.
If you currently work in the NHS, this position is equivalent to a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist role.
Our Offer
42-week term time contract, with flexible working options around school core hoursPaid RCSLT membership and HCPC feesBelonging to a team of students, therapists and assistants led by a Therapies Manager who is an SLTComprehensive 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, and encouragement to join and attend CEN's relating to practiceAn extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)Paternity, adoption dependants and carers leaveA generous local government salary related pensionLifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more2 paid volunteering days per year
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Team Lead, key responsibilities include:
Holding your own specialist clinical caseload and 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. Providing high quality dysphagia supervision e.g. supporting therapists through their dysphagia competencies. Working with colleagues across Surrey to ensure the wider team is informed of current research and evidence base, and that clinical practice is of high quality and reflects the research and evidence base. Working with management on the operational and strategic development of services to our schools across Surrey.Your management accountabilities include working alongside the other Team Leads to support and develop an enthusiastic and friendly team who work in mainstream and specialist schools as well as supporting student placements.
Through a joined 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.
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 and Prevention Service in Surrey's Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate, working collaboratively with other teams such as Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers and Team around the School. We are a large team (over 200) of both qualified therapists and non-qualified therapy assistants, with excellent supervision and CPD models available to you.
Our aim is for children and young people with speech, language, communication and dysphagia 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.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see above and below for complete information about this great opportunity with Surrey County Council.
Additional Information
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.
This role is subject to an online / social media check as part of our safer recruitment processes, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.
An enhanced DBS Disclosure and Barring Service check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Childrens and Adults Barred List checks will be required for this role.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following questions:
Do you have specialist skills in the area of dysphagia? Tell us more about how you gained these skills. Please tell us about any experience of line managing and supporting others including newly qualified therapists, assistants, students and work experience placements? Please tell us about any experience you have of working with families and others in complex situations? Please provide a supporting example.The job advert closes at 23:59 on 18.10.2026 with interviews planned to follow.
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.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected.
The provisional allocation for this post is East Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year.
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 shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A BSc (Hons) degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy and Registered membership of the HCPC Registered membership of the RCSLT A valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and willingness to travel across a wide geographical area.
Experience Essential
At least five 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 A continuing commitment to learning and development of self, and others, with regard to evidence base and research Evidence of strong organisation and prioritisation skills Evidence of building and establishing relationships with families and education providers, with the ability to manage complex situations
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Surrey County Council
Address Surrey County Council
Woodhatch Place
11 Cockshot Hill
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 8EF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/jobs (Opens in a new tab)