Local Area Coordinator
About the role
The starting salary for this position is £36,282 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.
Are you passionate about the power of local community and do you love working alongside people, supporting them to achieve their vision of a positive life?
We want Surrey to be a place where everyone has a great start to life, people live healthy and fulfilling lives, and are enabled to achieve their full potential and contribute to their community. With the help of the national Local Area Coordination Network, we are establishing a new Local Area Coordination team, alongside our partners, to help us make this a reality.
We are recruiting for a Local Area Coordinator to work alongside local communities within Old Dean and St Michael's in the Borough of Surrey Heath, a fantastic part of the county.
As the Local Area Coordinator in these areas, you will be aiming to:
- Take introductions from services, organisations and local people to support residents in the local area to stay strong, build their personal capacity and prevent any need for service interventions by building on their strengths and natural support through local relationships
- Walk alongside people facing personal crisis, supporting them to achieve person-centred services within the context of a supportive community network around them
- Help our public services to learn, understand and transform so they are integrated, person centred, and co-produced with communities
The Local Area Coordination approach has had a positive impact for communities in other areas of the country and we are excited to now be starting this model in Surrey.
The Team
The role is positioned in Surrey County Council (within the Customer and Communities Directorate) but in day-to-day practice you will be based in the local community, alongside colleagues from other County Council services, the local Borough or District Council, NHS partners, and the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector.
We are building a new team and are looking to introduce Local Area Coordination in four areas of the county to start with, so you will be supported within a small initial team of four.
You will be paving the way for this new approach as we plan to introduce the role in additional areas of the county over time, as part of our wider efforts to support people earlier and more effectively within their homes and local communities.
To be shortlisted to interview for this position your application will clearly evidence:
- Experience of working alongside and supporting a diverse range of people, including those experiencing mental health issues, older people, people with physical disabilities, families, carers, and their local communities
- Understanding and practical experience of advocacy and supporting people to plan for their future in a strength-based way
- Ability to work creatively and independently
- Experience and ability to work with a broad range of professionals within the health and social care sector as well as elected members, community leaders, third sector, voluntary, community and faith sectors as well as other organisations
At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.
For more information, please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Additional information
Find Out More!
We will be holding an informal briefing (via Zoom) at 5pm on 10th August 2022 about the role for anyone interested to hear more and ask questions. Please contact daniel.shurlock@surreycc.gov.uk if you would like to receive an invitation to this.
The Local Area Coordination Approach
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 14th August 2022.
Your Application
The application process will consist of three questions (using a maximum of 1,000 words in total). You will also be asked to upload your CV in addition.
Interviews will include two stages:
- A community assessment and lunch on either 23rd or 24th August 2022
- For those who pass the community assessment, a panel interview will follow the week starting 29th August 2022 (by remote video link)
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.
Contact details
If you are unable to join the zoom discussion but want to discuss the role informally, please contact either Daniel Shurlock by e-mail at daniel.shurlock@surreycc.gov.uk or on 07971662842 or Sarah Bogunovic by email at sarah.bogunovic@surreycc.gov.uk or on 07977266706.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Benefits
From flexible working to job sharing we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under-represented groups.