Details
* Reference: SCC/TP/287912/3496
* Positions: 1
* Category: Care - Children and Young People
* Contract type: Permanent
* Working hours: 36 hours per week
* Posted on: 14 July 2025
* Closing date: 3 August 2025
* Location: Cobham, Surrey
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 role is £35,730 per annum for working 36 hours per week.
We are delighted to be offering an opportunity for aSenior Practitionerto join our new 2 bed Children's Residential community Home inCobham. This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified Residential Worker to join the team as we expand our in-house residential provision by bringing online this 5th new home in Surrey. You will be well supported to develop your career in care and strengthen your practice and leadership as part of a collaborative, caring and respected service.
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 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
* Two paid volunteering days per year
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
* Relocation bonus
* Refer a friend payment of £750 as a thank you for finding the right residential worker
About The Role
As a Senior Practitioner, you will play a vital role in the team, providing essential support to the Deputy Home Manager, and Residential Workers as well as a voice in the wider team around each child. Your work will be both challenging but deeply rewarding, with each day bringing new experiences and opportunities to make a meaningful difference to the lives of the children and young people within the home.
At the heart of our service is a strong belief in the importance of working alongside children and young people—especially during their most challenging times. In this role, you'll contribute by providing consistent, compassionate care that promotes their safety, well-being, and long-term development.
Drawing on your experience as a residential support worker, you'll lead by example—championing best practices and using your skills and insights to support staff with each child's individual journey. Through your guidance, you'll help them build confidence, find purpose, and create positive, lasting experiences.
A key part of your role will be ensuring our services remain compliant with national standards, including Ofsted frameworks, legislation, and best practice guidance. You'll contribute to audits, inspections, and continuous improvement efforts to ensure we consistently deliver safe and high-quality outcomes.
In return for your dedication, expertise, and leadership, we offer a culture of high support and high challenge, with access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing professional growth and progression as our residential service expands.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:
* A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, with the expectation to work towards completing level 5 in Management and Leadership
* Your ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, their families and professionals
* An applied knowledge of contextual children's safeguarding and associated issues
* Proven experience of multi-agency working
* Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths-based care planning
* Experience of delivering statutory childcare services including the residential care of children and knowledge of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
As part of your application, you will be asked to submit a CV and answer the following questions:
* Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
* Please tell us about the skills and experience you have of providing children's residential care?
* Please tell us about any experience you have of multiagency working and why this is important.
* The work we do is very challenging (but rewarding). Using an example tell us about a time when you dealt with a challenging work situation effectively. What was the outcome and what did you learn from it?
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and our residential workforce will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and must be willing and able to use the home car to support our young people to attend appointments, activities or trips as agreed. 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.
Working in our homes represents a unique opportunity to support our children and young people with their everyday lives. To do this safely you will be asked to tell us about any allergies you have that may need to be reasonably managed to ensure your safety and wellbeing with minimal impact to the children and young people we care for.
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. If you have any questions about these roles please contact Sarah via email atresidentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk
This advert closes on 3rd August 2025 with interviews to follow.
What Next?
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. 10-15 min), and if successful following this, invited to meet us at one of our homes for an interview.
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.
We are committed to the safe recruitment of staff in our Residential homes across Surrey therefore if you are successful in being offered a role within our service, we will work with you to collect all required checks in line with government guidance. You can find out more about what information you will be asked to provideHERE.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
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 aboutour values.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. OurLife 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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