At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families in need, building trust and creating positive change.
- Company: Join Surrey's innovative Family Help Team in Reigate.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation package, generous leave, and wellness support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with experience in statutory work with children and families.
The predicted salary is between 48633 - 51624 £ per year.
We are looking for Social Workers to join our newly established East Family Help Team based in Reigate. The salary range for full-time permanent Social Workers who have successfully completed their ASYE is £48,633 - £51,624 per annum. This is inclusive of a market supplement of £5,000. 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 Offer to You
- A competitive relocation package of up to £8,000
- We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
- 28 days annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- Refer a friend payment of £1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Access to our car lease scheme
- Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. Help families build on their strengths and create lasting change. The Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP) is a national programme and a central part of the government’s wider children’s social care reform agenda. It aims to improve outcomes for children and families through family led decision making supporting earlier and more effective intervention and stronger partnership working. Here in Surrey, family-led planning, strengthening the role of Family Group conferencing and family network meetings is central to our newly formed Family Help service.
We’re looking for qualified social workers who will work alongside children, parents and wider family networks, helping them build on their strengths, address challenges and achieve positive, sustainable change.
About the role
Joining Surrey as a Family Help Social Worker is an opportunity to deliver thoughtful, relationship-based practice while using your professional judgement to identify risk, provide purposeful support and take timely action when safeguarding concerns arise. You’ll manage a varied workload of children and families who require assessment and targeted intervention. You’ll take the time to understand each family’s circumstances, build trusting relationships and ensure that children and families are meaningfully involved in decisions. Working with them, you’ll develop practical family led plans that respond to identified needs, risks and protective factors, with a clear focus on achieving lasting outcomes for children. You’ll work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to provide joined-up support, prevent needs from escalating wherever possible and respond decisively when risks increase. Throughout your work, you’ll balance compassionate and respectful practice with clear analysis, appropriate professional challenge and evidence-informed decision-making. You’ll be supported by a Family Help Team Manager through regular supervision and reflective discussion. As the Family Help model continues to develop, you’ll also have opportunities to learn, adapt your practice and contribute to the ongoing improvement of the service.
Your key responsibilities
- Manage a varied workload of children and families, taking professional responsibility for assessment, intervention, planning and review.
- Build trusting relationships with children and families, ensuring their experiences, views and strengths are central to assessments and plans.
- Use professional analysis and judgement to identify needs and risks, responding promptly and contributing to statutory safeguarding processes where required.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to deliver coordinated support, prevent escalation and improve outcomes for children.
- Maintain clear and accurate records, using supervision, feedback and reflective practice to continually strengthen the quality of your work.
What we’re looking for:
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:
- A recognised professional social work qualification, such as a CQSW, DipSW or equivalent and SWE registration
- At least 1 year UK experience of statutory social work with children and families within a UK local authority or a comparable setting.
- Up-to-date knowledge of children’s social care legislation, statutory safeguarding guidance.
- The ability to build trusting relationships while confidently assessing risk, analysing evidence and exercising sound professional judgement.
- Strong communication and partnership-working skills, together with a commitment to relationship-based, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 3 questions:
- Please tell us about what has motivated you to apply for a Social Worker role in Surrey's Family Help Service.
- Please tell us about your experience of undertaking statutory social work with children and families. What types of assessments and interventions have you been responsible for, and what were the outcomes?
- Please tell us about a time when you built trust and engagement with a child or family while managing concerns about risk or safeguarding. What was your approach and what was the result?
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Social 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. An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s Barred List checks will be required for this role.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday the 15th of November 2026 with interviews planned to follow. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
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. Please contact our dedicated CFLL Workforce Team via email at cfllworkforceteam@surreycc.gov.uk
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year.
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 shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, 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.
Children's Social Worker Family Help and Assessment employer: Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With a generous benefits package including up to 31 days of annual leave, a local government pension, and access to a wealth of learning resources, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact on the community. Located in Reigate, this role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the digital transformation of public services, all within a collaborative environment that values innovation and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children's Social Worker Family Help and Assessment
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Surrey County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Surrey County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Surrey County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Surrey County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Children's Social Worker Family Help and Assessment
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Surrey County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Surrey County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
