* Category: Care - Children and Young People
* Contract type: Permanent
* Working hours: 36 hours per week
* Posted on: 4 July 2025
* Closing date: 27 July 2025
* Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF
Description
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this position is £32,512 per annumbased on a 36-hour working week.
We are excited to be hiring a new Supported Lodgings Officerto join our fantastic Supported Lodgings Team based out of Reigate. The role covers the whole of Surrey, so you will need to be willing and able to travel throughout the County. There will also, on occasion, may be the requirement to work some evenings or weekends.
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 per year
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
* Comprehensive training package with a focus on career progression and developing skills and knowledge that benefit colleagues and residents alike
About the Role
The Supported Lodgings Team sits in the Fostering Service within Surrey Children's Services. Our aim is to ensure that young people aged 16-25 who are leaving the care system but are not quite ready to live independently are supported in family style, semi-independent accommodation to help them prepare for independent living. This ensures that they are able to develop the skills and confidence they need, alongside being able to make use of the resources available to Surrey residents.
We are a small, friendly and effective team; committed to providing the best service that we can. The work we do is critical as we recruit, asses and support carers who can offer family based supported lodgings.
The Supported Lodgings Officer is a challenging but highly rewarding role, as every day you will see the impact your work has on the lives of the young people we support. The work is varied, and no two days will be the same, so you'll need to be adaptable and enjoy a challenge!
Working closely together with the team, and directly with our young people, you'll be involved in the following:
* Acting as a first point of call for all our Supported Lodgings carers, helping them with their queries and concerns
* Taking part in referral interviews with our young people to assess their suitability for the scheme
* Building and maintaining strong relationships with prospective carers and supporting them through their journey towards approval
* Assessing prospective Supported Lodgings carers
* Undertaking initial and supervisory visits to our Carers
* You'll also play an active part in organising and attending Lodgings Support events and monitoring and updating our social media
It is a very varied role with lots to get involved in, and we will provide you with comprehensive support together with excellent in-house training to ensure your professional development and competence, so you are both able and empowered to fulfil the role and progress!
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence the following:
* Experience of working with children or young people in a paid or voluntary setting and a good understanding of the needs and experiences of young people who have been in care
* Effective relationship building and communication skills, with a good standard of literacy to be able to write reports
* Ability to work as part of a team
* Ability to work effectively to timescales in a busy environment
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. For an informal discussion please contact Lizanda Earle or Clark McAuley by e-mail.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 27/07/2025 with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.
Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants 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.
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