Deputy Principal Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

Are you an experienced, passionate Speech & Language Therapist ready to shape the future of communication support for children and young people? Do you thrive in leadership roles where your ideas, expertise and vision can directly influence service development and outcomes?

Main duties of the job

As our Deputy Principal Speech & Language Therapist, youll play a central role in leading and developing a dynamic, borough-wide service that supports children and young people across:

• Secondary schools
• Specialist schools (SEMH, MLD, SLD, PMLD)
• Youth Justice Service
• Traded/Buy-Back services
• Virtual School provision

Youll work closely with the Principal SLT to shape strategy, drive innovation, and ensure high quality, evidence based practice across all settings.

About us

At Merton Council, we are Merton UnitedOne Borough, One Team. We are committed to nurturing civic pride, building a sustainable future, and creating a borough where sport and active living are at the heart of our communities.

Merton Council is a friendly and ambitious organisation dedicated to the diverse communities who live here and to creating a healthier future for local people through its joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. We are looking for people who resonate with the councils values, which can be viewed at Values | Work for Merton | Merton Council

We pride ourselves on creating a workplace that encourages creativity, supports wellbeing, and delivers real, tangible impacts in the community.

Merton Council offers a competitive salary, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, and flexible working arrangements.

There are great transport links to the Civic Centre, with Morden Northern Line Underground Station very close bytravel into central London takes just 25 minutes. We are also a 10-minute walk from Morden Road Tram Stop and both Morden South and South Merton Railway Stations.

Please see our Work for Merton : Working for us | Merton Council page on our website for more information about a great range of benefits that go beyond salary and offer flexibility to suit you: Work for Merton : Working for us | Merton Council.

Details

• Date posted: 21 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £66,379 to £70,907 a year Inclusive of London Weighing.
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: F0019-3426
• Job locations: Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To work within the Speech and Language Therapy Team to provide a highly specialist assessment and diagnostic service, and to develop, implement and evaluate specialist programs of care, advice, support and training. To develop the skills of the team and to meet the needs of children and young people.

Work alongside and with the Principal Speech and Language Therapist, managing a service that encompasses delivery across primary, secondary and specialist maintained schools, Buy Back, Traded service, Virtual School Service and Youth Justice Team in line management by the Principal Speech and Language Therapist.

To highly provide specialist, autonomous clinical case management including highly specialist assessments and intervention, adapting practice to meet individual clients circumstances, overcoming any barriers to understanding.

To assess, develop and highly implement specialist speech and language therapy intervention programs to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients or families circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).