The salary range for this full-time, permanent position is £42,239 - £45,135 per annum based on a 36-hour working week. We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post.
This is a 9-5 qualified social work role, based at our Woking office, meaning you won't be required to travel to visit children, young people and families. This could make this role a good fit for anyone looking for greater flexibility around how they work.
We are looking for Qualified Social Workers to join our dynamic, dedicated and responsive Children's Single Point Of access service or C- SPA for short! As professionals within our service you will bring passion, be curious and committed to working collaboratively to safeguard children and young people to ensure they receive the right support at the right time.
Our Offer to You
We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee.
28 days annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
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 dependants leave.
A generous local government salary related pension
Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more.
2 paid volunteering days per year
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resourcesOur Progress
We are proud of our recent Good Ofsted judgement, which marks a significant milestone for Surrey. In relation to Children who are referred to our children's single point of access (C-SPA) the report highlights that "...they receive a timely and proportionate response. Practitioners and managers in the C-SPA routinely apply the authority's continuum of need guidance to inform decision-making, generating a consistent approach to contacts and referrals." and that "Staff are well-trained and committed, feel highly valued and are proud to work in Surrey.
About Working in C- SPA
In C- SPA our Multi Agency Partnership (MAP) team is exactly that- a multiagency team responsible for the safeguarding of children within the Surrey area. By working together social workers, education, police and health, we collectively triage, research, analyse and share information in order to identify the most appropriate level of support to meet the needs of a child.
This role is critical for us as C- SPA is the first point of contact any families or professionals have with Surrey where there is a safeguarding need, and therefore sets the tone for our entire working relationship with them.
Our practice across the service is based upon strong relationships with families and with partners who may also support our families. Using motivational approaches as well as principles of the Family Safeguarding Model, you will engage with both the family and the network around them to understand the presenting worries and work out whether a statutory social work service is required. In some instances, a plan to support the family at a lower level of need will be put in place to meet the need of the child and family.
About the Role
Joining us as a Social Worker in C- SPA means that you will be there from the outset of a Childs contact and journey with us. This is an opportunity to be part of a culture in which children and families are supported in a spirit of partnership that encourages them to develop their own solutions while receiving the professional help and support, required to address their needs.
The work of Social Workers in C- SPA can be rewarding but often complex in nature, gathering information and making enquiries as necessary to inform threshold decisions regarding the correct level of support required. We are looking for individuals with professional curiosity and well-developed analytical skills to support us in delivering laser focussed, collaborative and timely front door activity, which ensures child protection and safeguarding matters are effectively responded to.
Your Application, Our Inclusive Approach
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England
Sound knowledge of social work practice and legislation
Ability to make threshold decisions in a timely manner, applying professional judgment and reasoning
Ability to communicate effectively with individuals, families and professionals in a clear, professional and timely way
Excellent partnership working skills with an ability to collaborate effectively with partners in statutory, voluntary and third sector organisations
Substantial children's social work experience in a UK Statutory settingTo apply you will need to upload your CV and answer 4 application questions (no more than 200 words per question):
Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role
In this role, you will need to make decisions using your professional judgment and analytical skills. Please tell us about a time when you used your analytical skills to respond to a complex piece of casework
Please tell us about a time when you were able to build effective working relationships with stakeholders or partners that enabled you to deliver positive outcomes?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.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 24.11.2025.
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore your answers to the above questions (lasting approx. 15- 20 min). If your Teams call goes well, you will be invited for an in-person interview, allowing you to meet the team, check out your potential office and get a feel for what your journey might look like.
We are committed to inclusive recruitment. That is why, if you are invited to a face-to-face interview, we'll share the themes of the questions with you in advance. This way, you can prepare and feel comfortable knowing what topics will be covered during the process, allowing you to focus and confidently discuss your valuable skills and experiences.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, 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!
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