Description
We have a great opportunity for a Team Manager to join and lead our Children Looked After Team based in Dakota, Weybridge. When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile 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.
The salary range for a Team Manager is £54,636 - £58,953 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. Our Total Reward Statement attached below includes additional information about other financial benefits available to you including professional fees, pension contribution and much more.
Our Offer to You
1. We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
2. 28 days annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
3. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
4. An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
5. Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
6. Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
7. A generous local government salary related pension
8. Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
9. 2 paid volunteering days per year
10. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
11. Refer a friend payment of £1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker
Our Progress
We are proud of our recent, which marks a significant milestone for Surrey. The report highlights that "Children in care have trusting and positive relationships with their Social Workers. Social Workers use creative life-story work to help children understand the reasons why they are in care." And "Staff are well-trained and committed, feel highly valued and are proud to work in Surrey."
If you are considering your next professional opportunity and looking for an ambitious and highly motivated employer who is continuously striving for better services for children and young people, then our Surrey Children's Services would love to hear from you.
About working with Children Looked After
The Children Looked After Team support children living with relatives, friends or foster families and perspective adopters or older children living in children's homes and semi-independent units. We build sustainable relationships, plan for their permanence and ensure their safety, supporting them take the necessary steps towards independence.
Through regular visits, assessments and reviewing their Care Plan, we nurture and develop meaningful relationships with these children and young people; understand and interpret their wishes; and champion and support them to reach their full potential.
Working as a Team Manager is an opportunity to be part of a culture in which children and families are supported in a spirit of partnership working that encourages them to develop their own solutions while receiving the help and support, they need to address their complex situations. You will build sustainable relationships with children and families, placing planning for their permanence at the heart of your practice.
This role is an opportunity to nurture and grow your own team of social workers and practitioners using a motivational interviewing approach, supported by relational social work practice to deliver the best possible outcomes for the children, young people and families we support.
Supporting You
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive high quality supervision, as there is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focusses on the work you do with children and families, to enable you to work creatively and holistically with a child centred approach.
You will also be supported in your career development by your management team and our Surrey Children's Service Academy, which currently has over 60 courses available and offers a bespoke learning programme so you can be at the forefront of best practice, providing you with support and a clear pathway to achieve your future aspirations.
Modules such as motivational interviewing and our total respect course allow you to feel empowered in having essential conversations whilst still ensuring a child centred approach to your practice.
Your Application, Our Inclusive Approach
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with :
12. Qualified Social Work degree and SWE Registration
13. Car driver with a valid UK license
14. ASYE completed, within two years of qualifying
15. UK social work experience
16. Four years post-qualified experience
17. Evidence of supervising (students and practice educator) or supervising other qualified staff
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.
To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions (no more than 200 words per question):
18. Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
19. Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
20. Please tell us about an example that demonstrates how you have built long lasting relationships with children.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and to get an insight into working at Surrey.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 2nd April 2026 with interviews to follow.
We are committed to inclusive recruitment. That's why, if you're 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.
Contact Us
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 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! Please see more information here:
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.
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