Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council . We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. The starting salary for this full-time, permanent position is £72,823 per annum based on 36 hours per week, inclusive of market supplement. We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Lead Speech and Language Therapist to join the fantastic Surrey Schools Speech and Language Therapy Team, based in Reigate. Our offer to You Paid RCSLT membership and HCPC fees Belonging to a team of students, therapists and assistants led by a Therapies Manager who is an SLT Comprehensive clinical supervision programme including 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 practice An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 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 2 paid volunteering days per year Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources About the Role At Surrey, we’re committed to ensuring that children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) receive the right support, at the right time. Our School-Aged Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service plays a vital role within our wider Inclusion and Additional Needs system, working alongside Educational Psychology, Specialist Teachers, REMA and Behaviour Support to deliver joined-up, impactful support across schools and settings. We are now looking for a Senior Lead Speech and Language Therapist to join our leadership team, a key role where you will help shape the future of our service and influence practice across the wider SEND system. This is a senior leadership position with strategic and operational impact. You will work closely with the SLT Service Manager, helping to lead the service through a period of change and opportunity, including Local Government Reorganisation and devolution. As the lead for the teams transitioning into East Surrey, you will take on line management of SLT Leads, ensuring strong leadership, clear direction and high-quality delivery across the area. You’ll play a key role in driving forward our vision for inclusive, early intervention support, contributing to national and local reforms such as Experts at Hand, and helping to ensure our services are sustainable, responsive and outcomes-focused. In this role, you will: Lead and inspire teams: Provide professional leadership, supervision and direction to SLT teams, supporting a positive, high-performing culture Shape and deliver services: Develop and deliver service plans that respond to local need, national policy and evolving SEND reforms Drive system-wide impact : Work across education, health and council services to influence practice and embed effective support for children with SLCN Manage people and resources effectively : Oversee staffing, deployment and budget management, ensuring the service is sustainable and efficient Use insight to improve outcomes : Use data to monitor performance, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement Support transformation and change : Lead elements of service redesign and implementation, including within the context of reorganisation and devolution Champion the profession: Act as an ambassador for Speech and Language Therapy across the council and beyond, promoting its value and impact You will also deputise for the Service Manager as required and contribute to the wider leadership of Surrey’s Early Intervention and Prevention Service. Your Application We’re looking for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who brings strategic thinking, strong leadership and a passion for making a difference. In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : A BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent), HCPC registration and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists At least 3 years’ experience as a Local Authority Lead Speech and Language Therapist with experience supporting therapy teams across a range of school settings and needs A proven ability to lead, motivate and develop others, using different leadership and communication styles with experience of clinical supervision and line management Experience of training and influencing practice Strong knowledge of relevant SEND policy, legislation and best practice Confidence using data to plan, monitor and improve services A collaborative, relational approach to working with partners and stakeholders experience of project design and implementation A proactive, solution-focused mindset, particularly around challenges such as recruitment and retention 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. 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. This is a great opportunity to step into a role where you can help shape the future of SLT services in Surrey and influence system-wide practice and outcomes for children and young people. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 21/06/2026 with interviews planned for 26/06/2026. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and 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. Please contact Barbara Paulger via email at Barbara.paulger@surreycc.gov.uk We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. 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.

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