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.
This permanent role has a starting salary of £47,884 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week or £28,730 per annum based on a 21.60 hour working week.
We have a great opportunity for two Senior Social Workers to join our fantastic Epsom General Hospital Team.
We currently have two positions available:
1. 1 full-time (36 hours per week)
2. 1 part-time (21.6 hours per week)
We support hybrid working with the right balance and staff are expected to be in the office at least 3 days per week. Our team covers the hours of 8am–6pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am – 4pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Currently, the successful applicant will not be expected to work weekends. Our Senior Social Workers typically work Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
Our Offer to You
3. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
4. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
5. A generous local government salary related pension
6. Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
7. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
8. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
9. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
10. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
11. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About The Role
This is a great opportunity to step into a role within a supportive, high-performing, and award-winning team. Based in Epsom Hospital, our team is known for its collaborative culture, commitment to professional development, and strong track record in delivering timely, person-centred hospital discharges.
Our team is one of five of Surrey County Council's acute hospital teams consisting of qualified and non-qualified staff and sitting within the Adult Social Care directorate. Working closely with health partners, residents and families, we ensure people receive the right support at the right time. We support our clients throughout the discharge process, ensuring patients are discharged to return to living in the community or short-term placements, with packages of care in place, under the Discharge to Assessment Framework, enabling assessment post-discharge within a set timeframe, as they regain their independence to the maximum.
This role provides a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, through promoting strengths-based and person-centred practice that is legally compliant and supports our residents to be discharged from an acute hospital setting in a safe and timely manner.
When joining us, you will receive regular supervision, management support, training opportunities, and peer-to-peer learning, all of which will promote your own professional growth and development. You will become part of a fantastic team that supports each other, enabling a positive and collaborative approach to our work.
This will be a highly varied role which will include:
12. Care Act assessments
13. Mental Capacity Act assessments and leading on Best Interest Decisions
14. Screening residents for eligibility for Continuing Healthcare
15. Safeguarding concerns and completing Section 42 Enquiries
16. Partnership working with our Hospital NHS colleagues, including Discharge to Assess
17. Attending Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings on the wards
18. Working with and supporting adults and their carers, advocates and families through the discharge process
19. Supervision and support of staff development and performance
You will work closely with Adult Social Care locality and specialist teams, as well as community health, charities and voluntary organisations.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with :
20. Professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England
21. Knowledge and experience of current legislation, including the Care Act and the Mental Capacity Act, and the application of this to practice in a social care setting
22. Knowledge and experience in carrying out safeguarding enquiries, carrying out assessments within the hospital and/or community and working with a diverse group of individuals and partner agencies
23. Experience of providing supervision to qualified staff and experienced social care staff, and supporting with their development
24. Commitment to your own professional development
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and 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, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
25. Looking at our advert, and considering the Council's commitment to ensuring that "no one is left behind", please tell us what it is about the role that has motivated you to apply?
26. Please tell us about the relevant experience or transferable skills you have that you can bring to this role?
27. What three qualities do you have that would make you a good Senior Social Worker and how do these qualities support Surrey County Council's culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and adaptability?
28. Please outline how you would provide a strength based and person-centred approach to discharge planning from hospital.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & to get an insight into working at Surrey.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 06/01/2026 with interviews planned to follow.
Contact Us
We look forward to receiving your application,