Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist

Surrey County Council; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking a Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join their team supporting schools in Guildford and Waverley. The role offers a competitive salary, flexible working, and comprehensive training as you embark on your journey as an Autonomous Practitioner, making a real difference in children's lives.

Benefits

RCSLT membership fees covered

Comprehensive clinical supervision programme

Flexible working around school hours

Paid volunteering days

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Expected to have experience with formal and informal assessments for school-age children.
• Registered with HCPC and RCSLT.
• Knowledge of evidence-based intervention approaches.

Responsibilities

• Involved in clinical decision making around support levels for children.
• Work with assistants to set targets and monitor progress.
• Manage a caseload of children with a range of SLCN.

Skills

Clinical decision making

Support and monitoring

Assessment

Caseload management

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist

Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist

• Reference: SCC/TP/287912/3429
• Positions: 1
• Category: Speech and Language Therapy
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 36 hours per week across 42 weeks per year
• Posted on: 30 June 2025
• Closing date: 20 July 2025
• Location: Guildford and Waverley, Surrey

Description

This role has a competitive starting salary of £33,103 per annum for 36 hours per week across 42 weeks per year (term time + 3 weeks of holiday working), pro-rata to £35,730 at 52 week equivalent.

We are excited to be finalising our Newly Qualified Practitioner cohort for 2025! If you are about to graduate with a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, and are keen to begin your journey to Autonomous Practitioner in a strong group of NQPs, then look at joining our supportive South West Speech and Language Therapy team! We work across schools in the Guildford and Waverley area with an office base in Woking. We operate a hybrid work style including regular visits to schools and other offices.

Rewards and Benefits

• We pay your RCSLT membership and HCPC fees!
• 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 (weekly for NQP's for the first 3 months moving to monthly over the first year, at your pace), extensive in house training programme and formal external training opportunities, access to clinical effectiveness groups, case study groups and an NQP / Band 5 group, termly study days, encouragement to join and attend CEN's relating to practice
• A mixed and varied caseload across settings and age groups
• Termly themed study days for the whole SALT team
• Enhanced support to take you through your competencies
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carers 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

You can find further information about other financial benefits available to you including professional fees, pension contributions and much more in the Total Reward Statement attached at the bottom of this advert.

About the Role

Our large and friendly team of Speech & Language Therapists (SLTs) and Speech & Language Therapy Assistants work across mainstream and special schools. We are part of the Council's offer to support children with Additional Needs and Disabilities, working collaboratively with the Inclusion and Additional Needs Team and other areas like Educational Psychology and Specialist Teaching. Our tiered model supports universal, targeted and specialist intervention for children, families and the school workforce; making sure we deliver the right support at the right time to children and young people, with and without EHCPs.

The role of a Speech and Language Therapist is varied and no two days will be the same, however you can expect to be involved with the following:

• Clinical decision making in conjunction with school staff and evidence–based practice, around the level of support needed to achieve the best possible outcome for the Children and Young People (CYP) on your defined caseload
• Working with Assistants, setting targets for the CYP you are jointly supporting and monitoring the delivery and outcomes of their work
• Assessment, advice and intervention for CYP with a range of SLCN within your caseload
• Prioritisation and caseload management

Shortlisting Criteria

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

• You possess a degree in Speech and Language Therapy (or are about to obtain this)
• You will be registered with HCPC and RCSLT and have permission to work in the UK
• Evidence of clinical knowledge and familiarity with a range of formal and informal assessments for school age CYP
• Evidence of experience and knowledge of a range of evidence-based intervention approaches

Therapists will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across the quadrant. 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.

We are a friendly team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about the work we do. If you feel like this could be the place to kick start your career or further develop your therapy skills and knowledge, please do get in touch.

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.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20th July, 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. 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 (formerly known as CRB) 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.

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. OurLife at Surrey handbook also provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.