At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Family Safeguarding Teams to empower families and support children in need.
- Company: Surrey County Council, committed to high-quality social care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation package, generous leave, and wellness support.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with strong team support and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of children's services while making a real difference in your community.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Work degree, SWE Registration, and relevant experience required.
The predicted salary is between 54464 - 57864 £ per year.
We have opportunities for Advanced Social Workers to join our Family Safeguarding Teams based across Woking and Guildford areas. The salary range for Advanced Social Workers is £54,464 - £57,864 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 30 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
- Access to our car lease scheme
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- Refer a friend payment of £1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker
A New Way of Working in Surrey - connecting with local communities and empowering families. Surrey is embedding the Family First Partnership and will launch our new service models in the autumn as part of our ongoing transformation of Children's Services. Working alongside colleagues from our Assessment, Family Safeguarding and Multi-Agency Partnership teams, Family Help will provide a more integrated approach to supporting children, young people and families. This means fewer handovers, stronger relationships and more coordinated support, with teams able to respond flexibly as families' needs change.
As you are applying for a role within one of the services coming together to form our new Family Help service, we wanted to make you aware of these exciting developments. Joining us now means you'll have the opportunity to help shape and be part of this new way of working from the very beginning.
About Surrey
Our Surrey Children's Services are actively working towards becoming a high-performing local authority, evidenced by the fact we are now starting to realise the positive impacts of the Family Safeguarding practice model in action with reductions in the number of children subject to child protection plans. We are working hard to sustain and develop our progress and this is driven by the efforts of every member of our social care workforce from our business support and family support workers to our frontline practitioners through to leadership - all working together to create and sustain the right conditions for a positive culture and well-supported workforce equipped to deliver consistent and good quality social work practice for our children and families.
Our Progress
We are proud of our Good Ofsted judgement, which reflects that practitioners are "skilled at building relationships with children who are subject of children in need or child protection plans. Creative direct work helps them to build a rounded understanding of children's daily lives." "They also build positive relationships with parents, enabling honest and sometimes difficult conversations." Overall "Staff are well-trained and committed, feel highly valued and are proud to work in Surrey."
About our Family Safeguarding Service
Our Family Safeguarding services include responsibility for our Family Safeguarding Model, Child In Need, as well as pre and court proceedings. Within Family Safeguarding we use motivational interviewing, multi-agency approach under the Family Safeguarding model, where Social Workers, Family Support Workers, Domestic Abuse Practitioners, Recovery Workers, Mental Health Practitioners, and Psychologists collaborate closely to address family issues efficiently, reducing the need for referrals to other agencies.
As an Advanced Social Worker (ASW) you'll enjoy mentoring and collaborating with less experienced social workers within the team supporting their development. We aim for you to hold a reduced caseload to enable you to support effectively whilst also deputising for the Team Manager when needed. This is a great role for anyone looking to enhance your professional development and take a step towards a management position.
We strive to provide a supportive and dynamic work environment for our staff, that fosters growth, maintains work-life balance, and rewards efforts. We guarantee 5 days of CPD and have access to excellent research and development tools such as Community Care Inform, Care Knowledge and Research In Practice.
Why Choose Surrey?
Surrey is a large and ambitious local authority meaning we can draw from a range of available resources to support the delivery of our services to children and their families, but that's just part of it. It's our staff that truly make the difference day in day out and we'd like to share with you some of their insights as to why they choose to be part of Surrey Children's social care workforce.
Our staff highlighted that you can expect…
- Positive team and colleague relationships - You'll have the opportunity to be part of a team that thrives on positive working relationships, where collaboration with supportive colleagues in your team, across the organisation and with key partners will enable and enrich your practice.
- Flexibility and work-life balance - We are committed to agile working and trust you to adapt your schedule to suit your needs, balancing this against the need to visit your children and families. It is our expectation that staff attend the office at least 2 days per week.
- Opportunities and support for professional development - You can benefit from a structured environment that encourages growth and development. You'll have access to ongoing training opportunities via our Surrey Children's Service Academy, including our coaching and mentoring scheme, a well-structured progression pathway, learning opportunities and reflective and task focused supervision.
- A sense of belonging and familiarity - You'll be part of our welcoming and approachable social work family where you'll be able to draw on the knowledge of established team members to support your understanding of the local area and available resources, working for a team where your individual expertise are valued and where you can have fun together.
- A focus on wellbeing - We recognise that you are a valuable asset and key to unlocking the positive changes we aspire for with our children and families. The job you do is serious therefore we take your well being seriously and recognise the need for reflective supervision where wellbeing is front and centre of the conversation.
Your Application, Our Inclusive Approach
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- Qualified Social Work degree and SWE Registration
- Car driver with a valid UK license
- ASYE completed, within two years of qualifying
- UK social work experience
- Three years post-qualified experience
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. 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.
Advanced Social Worker in Woking employer: The Wild
At Aquarium of the Lakes, we pride ourselves on creating a vibrant and supportive work environment where our team members can thrive. As part of Parques Reunidos, you will benefit from comprehensive training, competitive salaries, and unique perks such as complimentary attraction tickets and discounts. Join us in delivering exceptional guest experiences while enjoying opportunities for personal and professional growth in a dynamic leisure park setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Advanced Social Worker in Woking
✨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 The Wild.
✨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 The Wild!
✨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 The Wild, 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 The Wild 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 Advanced Social Worker in Woking
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 The Wild:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The Wild! 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 The Wild
✨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.
