Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
Details
* Reference: SCC/TP/288102/2841
* Positions: 2
* Category: Speech and Language Therapy
* Contract type: Permanent
* Working hours: 36 hours per week across 42 weeks per year
* Posted on: 25 March 2025
* Location: Weybridge and Reigate, Surrey
Description
The starting salary for these positions is £30,121 per annum based on a 36 hour working week, across 42 weeks of the year (pro-rata to £32,512 52-week equivalent). The role is term-time, plus an additional 15 days per year.
We are excited to be hiring two new full-time Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Assistants to join our fantastic Surrey School SLT Team. Working in either our North East or South East mainstream schools, you will support children to meet their communication potential, empower school staff to confidently support communication needs, and take part in service development work.
The North East office base is in Weybridge, and the South East in Reigate, although we promote agile working and regularly work in schools.
Rewards and Benefits
* Flexible working around core school hours with mobile and agile working solutions
* 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 and case study groups, and regular specialist SLTA supervision
* A mixed and varied caseload across settings and age groups
* Themed study days for the whole SALT team
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing
* Up to 5 days of carers leave per year
* Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
* A generous local government salary related pension
* Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
About the Team
The School-Aged Speech and Language Therapy Service is part of Surrey County Council's support for children with Additional Needs and Disabilities, working collaboratively in the Inclusion and Additional Needs team in Surrey's Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Directorate, with other teams like Educational Psychology, and specialist teachers.
The Surrey SLT Service is a large team (over 170) of both qualified Therapists and non-qualified Therapy Assistants. We have excellent supervision and CPD models plus a rolling in-house training programme. One of our Therapists was voted People's Choice in the Surrey Stars Awards receiving over 500 votes showing how well the service is regarded in the organisation.
About the Role
As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, you will work under the direction of Speech and Language Therapists in the team, but will also spend a large amount of the working week working autonomously within schools. The Specialist Assistant takes a lead role in the development and support of new, or less experienced, Assistants in the team.
Your main duties in the role of Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Assistant will include:
* Working individually with a child or young person within a school or college to deliver therapy, review progress and suggest new targets in liaison with the link Therapist
* Giving feedback to parents on their child's progress
* Modelling strategies to school staff
* Problem solving with the class team around meeting children's needs
* Working with small groups, setting and reviewing group session plans
* Offering shadowing opportunities and peer support to less experienced SLTAs
* Leading Assistant meetings
* Taking part and leading in project work relating to Therapy Assistants to develop the Assistant team
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:
* Experience of working with children and young people under the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapy team for at least 5 years
* Experience of working as an SLT Assistant in mainstream schools/colleges and specialist schools/specialist centres
* Evidence of working independently and flexibly
* Evidence of using a range of communication approaches used in Speech and Language Therapy in mainstream schools
* Evidence of supporting others
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and therapy staff 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.
As part of your application you will be asked to submit a CV and answer the following questions:
* Have you been working under the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapy team for at least five years? Please tell us about the team.
* Have you worked as an SLT Assistant in mainstream schools and colleges? Please give details.
* Do you have knowledge and experience of using a broad range of speech, language and communication strategies? Please give details.
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 about the SE post, please contact Rachel Brown. Please contact Melissa Sartin if you are interested in the NE post.
The closing date for this advert is 13th April 2025 although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may shortlist in advance of the closing date. We therefore encourage an early application.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
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