Children's Residential Support Workers Epsom and Walton

This role has a salary scale of £27,897 - £30,048 per annum based on a 36-hour week. Additional payments for occasional weekend and bank holiday working and sleep in duties are applicable.

It's an exciting time to join Surrey as a Residential Support Worker as our new homes in Epsom and Walton welcome our first children and young people through the doors. Our homes are nestled within vibrant communities, well-connected by convenient transportation links, and conveniently located near the outskirts of London.

By joining us, you will have the unique opportunity to be part of our journey right from the start.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• 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 dependents 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
• Relocation payment of up to £8,000

About the role

We truly understand that being a Residential Support Worker requires a special kind of person. Each day brings unique experiences, filled with both highs and lows, as you become a part of the children and young people's lives, much like you would with your own family and friends.

As a Residential Support Worker you'll have a wide range of responsibilities that contribute to the growth and development of our children and young people. Some of the typical activities you'll be involved in include:

• Nurturing our children and young people's confidence and independence.
• Establishing structure, boundaries, and a sense of belonging.
• Creating a safe and comfortable space for meaningful engagement and building relationships.
• Providing opportunities to create lasting memories.

What we're looking for

While previous experience in a residential setting would be beneficial, we believe that you may possess transferable skills acquired from working in an educational background or caring for a family member just a couple of examples.

What matters to us is finding individuals who can showcase the following skills and attributes:

A flexible and adaptable attitude: Every day brings new surprises, and we value individuals who can easily adapt to unexpected situations with a positive outlook.
A commitment to providing high-quality care: We are looking for individuals who genuinely care about the emotional and developmental well-being of children and young people. Your dedication to delivering exceptional care is crucial to their growth.
An open-minded and patient approach: Working with others requires patience and understanding. We value individuals who can embrace different perspectives and maintain a calm and patient demeanour when faced with challenges.
Collaborative teamwork: Being part of a home team is essential, and we also appreciate your ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues from other services when needed to provide the best support possible.
Clear communication skills: Effective communication, both verbal and written, is vital. Your ability to express yourself clearly and appropriately will ensure smooth interactions and understanding among team members and the children and young people in your care.
A creative approach: We encourage you to think outside the box and come up with innovative ways to engage and support each individual child or young person.

Please note, if you are an international candidate looking for a role within our residential service, you must have a minimum of 2 years left on your visa and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years. We are unfortunately not able to offer sponsorship at this time.

Due to our legal obligations, we can only accept applications from people 22 years old and above.

You will need to the willingness and ability to travel to meet the demands of the role.

How we will support you

Along with a dedicated and committed wider residential team we will support you to achieve the mandatory, nationally recognised, Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (within two years of starting) if you don't already have this. Good quality supervision is available and this together with the right attitude and access to a full inhouse induction will allow you to start your career with Surrey with confidence.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 3rd of April 2024.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore the detail you provide in your application (lasting approx. 10-15 min), and if successful following this, invited to meet us at one of our homes for an interview. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis so feel free to submit an application as soon as you wish, and we will come back to you as quickly as possible

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.

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.