We have opportunities to join our Children Looked After Teams based in Guildford, Reigate and Weybridge.
When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working. We are keen to get the balance right of providing flexibility but ensuring you feel connected to your team and the service.
The salary range for Social Workers is £40,929 - £43,735 per annum. We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post.
Rewards and Benefits
-
We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
-
28 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
-
Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
-
An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
-
Up to 5 days of carer's 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 plus 1 team volunteering day per year
-
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Following our latest Ofsted visit in April, we are pleased to report positive feedback on our service quality for children in need or under child protection plans in Surrey. Ofsted recognized the improved impact of our 'comprehensive improvement programme'. You can read the full report here. We are committed to continuing our progress and are seeking motivated individuals to help us ensure children in Surrey are effectively safeguarded and receive timely support.
About working with Children Looked After
As a member in the Children Looked After Team, your role will be to support children living with relatives, friends or foster families and perspective adopters or older children living in children's homes and semi-independent units. You will build sustainable relationships with them and plan for their permanence. You will be responsible for ensuring their safety and support them take the necessary steps towards independence.
Through regular visits, assessments and reviewing their Care Plan, you will nurture and develop meaningful relationships with these children and young people; understand and interpret their wishes; and champion and support them to reach their full potential. Occasionally, you will be required to prepare reports and attend court.
You will be supported in this challenging role with regular supervision and consultations with our Mental Health Focussed Social Worker. You will also find support by working alongside other social workers, family support workers and partnership organisations such as: Health Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (New Leaf), Independent Reviewing officers and carers.
Supporting You
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive high quality supervision, as there is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focusses on the work you do with children and families, to enable you to work creatively and holistically with a child centred approach.
You will also be supported in your career development by your management team and our Surrey Children's Service Academy, which currently has over 60 courses available and offers a bespoke learning programme so you can be at the forefront of best practice, providing you with support and a clear pathway to achieve your future aspirations.
Modules such as motivational interviewing and our total respect course allow you to feel empowered in having essential conversations whilst still ensuring a child centred approach to your practice