Fostering Senior Supervising Social Worker

Job Introduction 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 position is £29,678.40 based on a 21.6-hour working week (pro rata to £49,464 per annum FTE). We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Senior Supervising / Assessing Social Worker to join the Family and Friends Team in Surrey’s Fostering Service, based in Woking. Our Offer to You We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee 28 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service (pro rated for part time staff) 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 plus 1 team volunteering day per year Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources About the Role In this role you will become a vital part of our creative and compassionate Fostering service. We are dedicated to supporting Surrey’s most vulnerable children and young people, working with theories of trauma, attachment and loss, alongside restorative practices. Our goal is to ensure the best possible outcomes for every child in our care, ensuring no one is left behind. As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a crucial role in assessing and supporting connected persons foster carers and proposed special guardians. Your responsibilities will include completing assessments for temporary approval under Regulation 24, supervising Connected Persons Foster carers and contributing to the wider fostering team with various essential tasks. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: Experience of working with children and young people and a comprehensive knowledge of legislation relating to Looked After Children and Care Proceedings Ability to work directly with the wider public, foster carers and young people and be able to produce clear, evidence based and analytical assessments Flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends, as the role includes attending events and home visits outside office hours That you are a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England 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. To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions: What is your motivation to apply for this role? What experience you can bring to this role? What is important to you when working with fostering families and the children they care for? Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. 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. For an informal discussion please contact Lucy Hawkins by e-mail. This advert closes at 23:59 on 06/09/2026 with interviews to follow. 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. 15- 20 min). If successful following this, you will be invited for an in person interview, allowing you to meet the team, check out your potential office and get a feel for what your journey might look like. 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, allowing you to confidently discuss your 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. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. 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. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council 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.