Senior Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

The starting salary for this position £22,010 per annum based on working 28.80 hours per week, across 42 weeks per year. The role is term time, plus an additional 12 days per year.

Our innovative and supportive school based Speech and Language Therapy service is looking for a Senior Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to work in Special Schools in North East Surrey. You will have a Surrey base in Dakota, our Weybridge office, and work in schools.

As well as working with children and young people under the direction of a Speech and Language Therapist, you will join a supportive network of Speech and Language Therapy Assistants who meet regularly for learning and peer support.

Rewards and Benefits

• Flexible working around core school hours with mobile and agile working solutions
• Comprehensive clinical supervision programme, extensive in house training programme and formal external training opportunities
• A mixed and varied caseload across settings and age groups
• Termly themed study days for the whole SALT team
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• We are a large and supportive team and can offer you strong line management, peer observations, joint working and a thorough induction and in-house training programme

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 Learning Directorate with other teams like Educational Psychology and specialist teachers.

We aim to deliver the right support at the right time through assessment and intervention, and equipping families and professionals with the skills and resources to work together to help and support children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs. We offer universal, targeted and specialist support for children, families and the school workforce, and work with children and young people with Education, Health & Care Plans and those at Special Education Needs support.

About the Role

Working under the supervision of a Speech and Language Therapist, your role will be to play a pivotal part in supporting children to achieve the outcomes agreed by a Therapist, in conjunction with the school and family, through a range of activities which will include:

• Working individually with a child / young person within a school, using some specialist approaches including AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
• Modelling strategies to class teachers / teaching assistants
• Working with a small group
• Supporting the admin for dysphagia (feeding) caseloads
• Creating resources for the therapy team
• Giving both written and verbal feedback to school staff and parents
• Keeping accurate written case notes
• Offering shadowing opportunities and peer support to less experienced Therapists

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:

• 2 years' experience of working with children and young people as a SLT Assistant as part of a Speech and Language Therapy Team within specialist schools
• Evidence of supporting others
• Experience of using a range of communication approaches used in Speech and Language Therapy, including specialist approaches like AAC
• Evidence of use of IT systems such as word and excel, outlook, Teams
• Evidence of working independently and flexibly

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Speech and Language 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 to meet the demands of the role.

As part of your application you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Have you worked as a speech and language therapist assistant in a school with children or young people for at least two years? Please can you tell us more about this experience.
• Please briefly describe a speech and language strategy or approach that you have supported staff or children to understand and use. What was its impact?

The closing date for this advert is 23:59 on 6th July 2025, although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may shortlist in advance of the closing date. We therefore recommend an early application. Interviews will take place the following week.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

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.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.