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 a Senior Practitioner to join the fantastic team based at our Children's Residential Home in Epsom. This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified Residential Worker to further enhance their knowledge and leadership skills, working alongside the team and fully supported by management.
Rewards and Benefits
1. 26 days' holiday rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
6. A generous local government salary related pension
7. Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
8. 2 paid volunteering days per year
9. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
10. Refer a friend payment of £750 as a thank you for finding the right residential worker
About the Role
As a Senior Practitioner in our Residential Service, you will provide pivotal support to our Deputy Home Manager, staff and team around the children and young people we support. You will lead the way in improving outcomes and ensuring that our home is a safe and nurturing environment where our children and young people can thrive.
This is a unique role where you will be at the forefront of working directly with children and young people through a mixture of individual and group interventions, whilst also working strategically to lead and develop your team and support high quality practice within our home.
We are looking for an individual who can join our service to confidently lead our home and inspire the children, young people and staff within it. You will support the home by providing expert advice and creative opportunities to access resources that enhance the purpose and well-being of our children and young people within the parameters of national guidance, standards and regulations associated with statutory residential children's services.
In all that you do you will ensure our services are compliant with national good practice, guidance, regulations and legislation, including Ofsted frameworks. You will also contribute to regular audits and inspections to ensure that we are effective and delivering key outcomes.
In return for your expertise, commitment and experience we will enable your ongoing learning and development through a culture of high support and high challenge, and access to a range of learning and development activities.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:
11. A Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, with the expectation to work towards completing level 5 in Management and Leadership
12. Your ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, adolescents, their families and professionals
13. An applied knowledge of contextual children's safeguarding and associated issues
14. Proven experience of multi-agency working
15. Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths-based care planning
16. 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:
17. Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
18. Please tell us about the skills and experience you have of providing children's residential care?
19. Please tell us about any experience you have of multiagency working and why this is important.
20. 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?
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.
Our Requirements
Due to our legal obligations, we can only accept applications from people 22 years old and above.
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and our residential workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle, 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.
Contact Us
This advert closes at 23:59 on 1st July 2025 with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application,