SEND 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 salary range for Social Workers is £42,2329 - £45,135 per annum. We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000. Further information is available in the attached Total Reward Statement about other financial benefits.

We have an opportunity to work as a Social Worker in the Special Educational Needs and we welcome applications from those without specific experience of working with Children and Young People with Additional Needs, who can demonstrate an interest in this area of work.

When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working. We are keen to get the balance right of providing flexibility but ensuring you feel connected to your team and the service.

Rewards and Benefits

• We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
• Access to bespoke learning programmes via our dedicated Children's Services Academy to empower and enrich your practice
• 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 are proud of our recent Good Ofsted judgement, which marks a significant milestone for Surrey. In relation to our Children With Disabilities service the report highlighted that "Social workers offer children and their families a wide range of interventions, aligned to their complex and unique needs. Workers know the children they are working with very well and are keen for them to achieve to their full potential" and that "Staff are well-trained and committed, feel highly valued and are proud to work in Surrey." You can read the full report HERE.

About working in the Intensive Family Support Service – SEND team

You will be joining a newly reconfigured service with a stable and committed support from the Designated Social Care Officer and the Intensive Family Support Service, where you will be operational lead for the completion of brief assessments of social care needs for those triaged to potentially have unmet needs.  You will join a service which has significantly improved quality and timeliness of social care contributions to Education Health Care Processes in Surrey County Council. You will be working closely with our parents and families to understand how we can improve the service and learn from their experiences of us.

Intensive Family Support Service provides the setting where this work will take place and the Team is committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people, maximising their opportunities . We are committed to working in partnership with families and take account of the needs of the whole family. We work closely with our colleagues in adult services to try to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood. We believe strongly in the importance of building positive and consistent relationships between the families we work with and social workers, and with the multidisciplinary team. We work closely with colleagues in SEND and across Early Help and Education to explore sources of support for families who are going through the EHC Process.

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. You will be empowered to work creatively and holistically in providing support and protection to children whilst also paying attention to your wellbeing and career development.

Wherever you are in your career journey, Surrey is committed to supporting and nurturing you so that you can be the best version of yourself.

Our Inclusive Approach

To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer 3 application questions:

1. Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
2. Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
3. A social worker in the Social Care Assessment for SEND Team will require an understanding of the Education Health Care Needs Assessment process and have experience of working with Children and Young People with Additional needs. Please tell us about your experience of assessing those with additional needs.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short virtual call to explore your answers to the application questions (lasting approx. 15- 20 mins). 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.

Fancy a chat?

Our friendly teams could talk your socks off when it comes to all things Social Work. We'd love to hear from you and find out more about what you're looking for so if you'd like to talk to us please just drop a quick message to cfllworkforceteam@surreycc.gov.uk and we'll get a call arranged.

The job advert closes at 11:59pm on 17th September 2025 with interviews to follow.

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.

You will need to be registered with Social Work England.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas, 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.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

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 Behaviours

The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: 

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form 

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.