Family Group Conference Coordinator

This permanent role has a starting salary of £33,552 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

The team are based at our Victoria Gate office in Woking. We support hybrid and flexible working with the right balance by coming together in person and support working from home alongside travel around the county visiting children, their family and their support network members.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About The Role

We are seeking a compassionate, skilled, and highly organised Family Group Conference (FGC) Coordinator to join our team. This is a rewarding opportunity to support children, young people, and their families to make safe and sustainable plans for the future.

As an FGC Coordinator, you will play a key role in empowering families to make informed decisions, strengthening support networks, and enabling positive change. You will ensure the FGC process is inclusive, well‑planned, and centred around the voice of the child.

In this role you will:

• Coordinate and deliver Family Group Conferences, ensuring high-quality, family led‑ planning.
• Engage children, young people, and their wider family networks to understand concerns and promote meaningful participation.
• Create a safe, inclusive environment for families to explore solutions and develop their own plans.
• Work collaboratively with social workers, early help practitioners, partner agencies, and community services.
• Manage referrals, maintain accurate records, and ensure conferences are timely and well-organised.
• Promote restorative, strengths‑based practice across all interactions.
• Advocate for the child’s voice, ensuring their wishes and feelings are central to the planning process.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and/or evidence of substantial experience in a relevant field
• An excellent communicator with the ability to build trust and rapport
• Skilled in conflict resolution, mediation, or restorative approaches.
• Confident in managing group dynamics and facilitating sensitive conversations.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail.
• Passionate about working collaboratively with families and professionals.
• Able to work independently with creativity, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
• Experience of and proven ability to build positive relationships with children and young people quickly by understanding their lived experiences to advocate on their behalf.
• Understanding Family Group Conferencing, principles of family decision making and social care legislation

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 4 questions:

1. How do you ensure children, families, and wider networks feel included, heard, and respected in your work?
2. Tell us about a time you brought people with different perspectives together to reach a shared plan or outcome
3. How have you taken ownership to deliver strong outcomes for families, even when challenges arose?
4. Give an example of when you adapted your approach or used learning to improve your practice or a process

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 6^th of April 2026 with interviews planned for the 20th April at our Victoria Gate office in Woking.

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. If you have any questions about this role please contact Emily Bamford, Family Group Conference Team Manager Emily.bamford@surreycc.gov.uk

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 Organisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.