At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care, build relationships, and ensure their safety and independence.
- Company: Join a supportive team at Surrey Children's Services with a focus on children's welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive recruitment process with support for applicants with disabilities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in social work.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Work degree, SWE Registration, and relevant experience required.
The predicted salary is between 28285 - 30705 £ per year.
We have a great opportunity for a part-time Senior Social Worker to join our fantastic Children Looked After Team based in Weybridge for 21.60 hours per week. The salary range for this role is 28,285 - 30,705 per annum, based on 21.60 hours per week, pro-rata to 47,884 - 51,175. We also offer a financial package of up to 6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post. When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working.
Our Offer to You:
- 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
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Refer a friend payment of 1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker
We recognise that looking for your next Social Work position is a really important step in your career and we're here to make that transition a positive one. Our commitment to applicants is to remove barriers and to understand more about you, your motivation for working in children's social care and why you're proud to work for such a valuable profession.
About working with Children Looked After:
As a member in the Children Looked After Team, your aim and role will be to support children living with relatives, friends or foster families and perspective adopters or older children living in children's homes and semi-independent units. You will build sustainable relationships with them and plan for their permanence. You will be responsible for ensuring their safety and support them towards independence. Through regular visits, assessments and reviewing their Care Plan, you will nurture and develop meaningful relationships with these children; understand and interpret their wishes; and champion and support them to reach their full potential. Occasionally, you will be required to prepare reports and attend court. You will be supported in this challenging role with regular supervision and consultations with our Mental Health Focussed Social Worker.
Supporting You:
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive high quality supervision, as there is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focusses on the work you do with children and families, to enable you to work creatively and holistically with a child centred approach. You will also be supported in your career development by your management team and our Surrey Children's Service Academy, which currently has over 60 courses available and offers a bespoke learning programme so you can be at the forefront of best practice, providing you with support and a clear pathway to achieve your future aspirations.
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
To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions (no more than 200 words per question):
- Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
- Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
- Please tell us about an example that demonstrates how you have built long lasting relationships with children.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 5th June 2026 with interviews to follow. We are committed to inclusive recruitment. That's why, if you're invited to a face-to-face interview, we'll share the themes of the questions with you in advance. This way, you can prepare and feel comfortable knowing what topics will be covered during the process, allowing you to focus and confidently discuss your valuable skills and experiences.
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.
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 criteria, 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.
Senior Social Worker for Children in Care. Job in Byfleet LilyLifestyle Jobs employer: United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
Surrey Children's Services is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment for Senior Social Workers in Byfleet. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, generous leave policies, and extensive professional development opportunities through the Surrey Academy, we empower our staff to thrive while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children in care. Join us in a team that values creativity, collaboration, and a child-centred approach, all within a community-focused setting that fosters both personal and professional growth.
Contact Details:
United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Worker for Children in Care. Job in Byfleet LilyLifestyle Jobs
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Surrey Children's Services and their recent achievements, like that Good Ofsted judgement. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to social work, especially those about building relationships with children. We can even help you role-play these scenarios to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Network, network, network! Connect with current or former employees of Surrey Children's Services on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and might even refer you, which could give you a leg up in the application process.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Surrey Children's Services.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Social Worker for Children in Care. Job in Byfleet LilyLifestyle Jobs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! We want to see what motivates you to support children in care and how much you value this important role.
Be Specific:When answering the questions, be specific about your skills and experiences. Use examples that highlight your ability to build relationships with children and demonstrate your understanding of their needs. We love a good story!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role. Highlight relevant experience and qualifications that align with what we're looking for. This shows us that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in joining our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the role of a Senior Social Worker for Children in Care. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as building relationships with children and planning for their permanence. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you’re genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to build long-lasting relationships with children. Think about times when you’ve successfully supported a child or family, and be ready to discuss these experiences in detail. This will highlight your skills and make you stand out.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare some insightful questions about the team dynamics, support systems, and the training opportunities available. This shows that you’re not only interested in the job but also in how you can grow within the organisation.
✨Be Yourself
While it’s important to be professional, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. The interviewers want to see who you are as a person, so be genuine and share your passion for working in children's social care. This will help them see how you’d fit into their team.
