Senior Residential Worker

About the role

Surrey County Council is recruiting Senior Residential Workers to join its children's homes across Guildford, Epsom, Woking, and Dorking. These are 24/7 residential settings where the focus is on turning houses into homes — nurturing, fun, and inspirational places where young people feel safe to be themselves and can rely on the team around them to guide, care, and support them to grow and thrive whatever their challenges.

Building effective relationships sits at the centre of this role. Senior Residential Workers coordinate activities and holidays, create meaningful care plans, work alongside partner organisations, write reports, and keep records clear and up to date. No two days are the same; the role brings complex and challenging situations alongside genuine reward for hard work, determination, and resilience.

This role includes:

• Building consistent, trusted relationships with children and young people in the home
• Co-ordinating activities, holidays, and meaningful daily experiences for young people
• Creating and maintaining care plans in collaboration with partner organisations
• Writing reports and keeping accurate, up-to-date records
• Supporting and guiding less experienced colleagues within the team

Shifts are usually between 10 and 12 hours, operating on a rota basis across a 36-hour working week. The service runs all year round, so the rota includes weekends and bank holidays, with enhanced rates of pay for those. Sleep-in duties are also a part of the role. Exact shift patterns and rota arrangements may vary slightly by home depending on staffing and the needs of the young people, and Surrey will talk these through with candidates during the initial Teams call.

To apply, upload your CV and answer four questions relating to Surrey's behaviours: what motivated you to apply, the relevant experience or transferable skills you hold, three qualities that would make you effective in the role and why, and how you would handle a situation involving challenging behaviour with a relevant example. Surrey reviews applications on an ongoing basis and will be in touch as quickly as possible. For questions about the role, flexible working requests, transferable skills, or any barriers to employment, contact Sarah Muzzall at residentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk.

About You

Surrey is looking for people who can match the energy required to be exceptional — those who bring commitment and resilience, and who understand that caring for children and young people demands consistency and genuine investment. This is a senior role, and candidates will need both the qualification and the direct experience to step into it with confidence.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (Residential Worker) or an equivalent qualification, which is required for appointment at Senior level
• Have direct experience of working with children or vulnerable groups
• Hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, as the role involves transporting young people to appointments, activities, and trips across both urban and rural parts of Surrey
• Be willing and able, when there is no safer alternative, to use restrictive physical intervention (restraint) as a last resort safeguarding measure, following full training from an accredited provider authorised by the local authority
• Be 22 years of age or above, as required by Surrey's legal obligations for this role
• Demonstrate the ability to build effective relationships with children and young people, manage complex and challenging situations, and contribute to a stable and caring home environment

Surrey is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who declare a disability on their application form and meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert are guaranteed an interview. Reasonable adjustments will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the role.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for regulated activity, including checks against the Children's and Adults' Barred Lists. Surrey is committed to the safe recruitment of staff in its residential homes and will work with successful candidates to collect all required checks in line with government guidance.

Surrey's Offer to You

Surrey's Senior Residential Workers are supported through a culture of high support that enables career growth within the Residential service. There are ongoing learning and development opportunities through a dedicated hub, and Surrey's commitment is that working in its homes is genuinely rewarding — not in spite of the complexity, but because of the difference that dedication makes to the lives of children and young people in its care.

The offer includes:

• 26 days' annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years, with the option to buy up to 10 additional days
• A generous local government salary-related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year, plus paternity, adoption, and dependants leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• And more, including access to a learning and development hub with a wealth of resources

Surrey County Council is currently undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Staff employed by Surrey on 1 April 2027 will transfer to one of the new councils with their current terms and conditions protected.