Children’s Residential Support Worker

The starting salary is £26,080 per annum based on a 36 hour week, PLUS an ADDITIONAL 50% of pay for all hours worked between the hours of 8pm - 8am, and for all hours worked on weekends and bank holidays. 

Not local to Surrey? Not a problem! We can offer relocation assistance, so please contact us if you’d like to learn more about how to qualify for this.

Are you ready to start an exciting and rewarding career caring for children in one of our children's homes? We are looking for staff who have the enthusiasm and creativity to enhance and improve children's lived experiences. 

What We Can Offer You!

We offer many great benefits for staff depending on what is important to you! A selection of these include:

• Professional support from experienced and qualified members of the team with clear career progression, including studying for a nationally recognised diploma
• A generous local government pension scheme to provide you with a secure and guaranteed future income
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing tools to support your mental and emotional well-being, including our free confidential Employee Assistance Programme, a range of mental health apps and support for staff in crisis and much more
• Lifestyle benefits: purchase of additional annual leave, access to a huge range of discounted vouchers and memberships covering gym, retail, cinema and holidays
• Travel and Transport benefits: including cycle and car schemes, as well as discounted travel on season tickets

About Us

We have a number of Residential Worker roles available for energetic and enthusiastic people based in our children's homes in Guildford, Woking, Cobham, Redhill, Tadworth and Knaphill. 

Most of our homes look after children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties such as trauma and attachment issues and child exploitation, but we also have specialist facilities such as our Extended Hope Service that provides short stays for children and young people in mental health or emotional crisis. 

Other specialist facilities cater for children and young people with learning and moderate physical disabilities on a permanent basis, whilst our Applewood service offers a respite service by providing short breaks, day visits and overnight stays for children and young people with a range of disabilities.

About the Role

Each day is different, but as a Residential Worker you'll be involved in:

• Interacting and building relationships with children and young people so they can grow and thrive
• Co-ordinating activities and holidays with children and young people
• Creating meaningful care plans
• Working in partnership with other professionals and agencies
• Writing reports and keeping detailed records

About You

You may already have some experience of working with children and young people or an understanding of some of the complex issues faced by children in care - but you will also need to have empathy, resilience and a good sense of humour! Most important is you are enthusiastic, reliable and flexible in your approach to work, as hours worked are on a rota basis. You will need to be prepared to work evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep in duties. For this commitment we will reward you with an additional, generous unsocial hours payment.

You will be keen to progress and will be supported to study for the mandatory, nationally recognised Level 3 Diploma in Residential Care within a two-year period. Once you have gained this qualification (and subject to satisfactory working), you will be promoted to a Senior Residential worker on the next level of pay, £27,991 per annum.

To be shortlisted to interview your application will clearly evidence:

• Understanding of the issues that may affect children and young people in care
• Great communication with good verbal, IT and written skills
• Ability to build authentic relationships with children and young people
• Resilience with a positive and adaptable approach to work
• Competency in Maths and English sufficient to be able to work towards the Level 3 Diploma
• Commitment to a working pattern that includes weekends and unsocial hours
• You will need to be at least 22 years of age to meet our legal obligations and you will need to hold a current driving licence

If you feel you have the passion, enthusiasm and transferable skills to enhance the lives of our children and young people then we would love to hear from you! 

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Laura Hoyles by e-mail at laura.hoyles@surreycc.gov.uk or Scott Hampshire-Jones at scott.hampshirejones@surreycc.gov.uk.

We look forward to receiving your application. 

Additional Information

This is a rolling advert and applications will be reviewed regularly. If your application is successfully shortlisted, we will be in touch to arrange an interview. Interviews are held on a weekly basis.