Family Support Worker

The starting salary for this position is £31,262 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

This opportunity is offered on a 12 month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity.

When not working with our residents in the community we support agile and hybrid 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 by coming together for 2 days a week in the office. The Safeguarding Team is based in the North East of Surrey at our Dakota office in Weybridge.

We are looking for a positive and creative individual to join the Family Safeguarding Team as a Family Support Worker to help make a difference to our children and family's lives.

Rewards and benefits

• 26 days' holiday 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

About the team

Surrey Children's Service believes that the welfare of children and their families is paramount. Team members are positive, enthusiastic and supportive; committed to the provision of a quality service for children and their carers. We are looking for people with similar qualities to join us.

About the role

As a Family Support Worker you will support Social Workers in the team, working intensively and in a planned way with children, their families or carers and other agencies and services. Supporting children and families to achieve their potential will be central to all you do. You will undertake direct work with children, parenting work and potentially group work. As well as this, you will need to be able to work in partnership and use your skills to engage with children in a meaningful way. We use motivational techniques to engage families in creating positive change.

As a member of our team, you will be working alongside partners, agencies and the voluntary sector to support children and their families in the community. Surrey Children's Service provides training to ensure competence and professional development. We will make sure that you receive a full induction and monthly supervision.

Shortlisting criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• An understanding of working with children who are in need of support or protection
• Experience of working directly with children and young people and able to show how this work has resulted in positives outcomes
• Ability to engage with families/carers and children, as well as supporting Social Workers in managing risk and effecting positive change
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel around the county to meet the demands of the role
• A commitment to working with families most days of your working week; the majority of the work we do is best completed in person

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 19th May 2024 with interviews planned for week commencing 29th May 2024.

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.

Our commitment

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.