Residential Support Worker – Extended HOPE

About the role

Extended HOPE is a specialist assessment and support service based in Redhill, providing short-stay, crisis support and respite for children and young people experiencing emotional or mental health crisis. Placements last up to seven days, giving young people a safe, stabilising space during a highly vulnerable time.

The service is jointly funded with the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP). The team includes dedicated Residential Workers alongside a Community Psychiatric Nurse who completes mental health assessments and supports children, young people, and their families and carers throughout their stay. Two permanent Residential Support Worker positions are available: one full-time at 36 hours per week and one part-time at 18 hours per week, with the part-time salary calculated on a pro-rata basis.

As a Residential Support Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting children and young people who are often out of education due to the crisis they are experiencing. Your day-to-day support, structure, and presence will be incredibly important in helping them make sense of what they are feeling. Building trusting, therapeutic relationships quickly is central to this role. To equip you for this, all staff receive DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) training, an evidence-based therapeutic approach proven to help individuals manage overwhelming emotions, reduce harmful behaviours, and build healthy coping strategies.

The work is fast-paced, unpredictable, and emotionally demanding. You may at times be exposed to harmful or high-risk behaviours from young people in crisis. Personal resilience, strong teamwork, and a calm, grounded approach are essential. Unlike longer-term residential settings, the support provided at Extended HOPE is short-term and crisis-focused, meaning the impact is immediate, practical, and deeply meaningful.

This role includes:

• Engaging with young people meaningfully, communicating with empathy, and helping them navigate intense emotions and distress
• Building trusting, therapeutic relationships quickly within short-stay placements of up to seven days
• Providing structure and consistent daily support for young people who are frequently out of education during their crisis
• Working collaboratively within a small, close-knit team that includes a Community Psychiatric Nurse
• Responding dynamically to changing needs and high-risk situations in a crisis-focused environment

As a 24/7 service operating all year round, roles work on a rota basis. Shifts are usually between 10 and 12 hours to ensure consistent care for children and young people, though this may vary slightly depending on staffing arrangements and individual needs. You will work to a fixed four-week rota, meaning you will know in advance the days and hours you will be working. Shift patterns and rotas will be discussed during the initial Teams call so you are clear on what to expect. Enhanced rates of pay apply for bank holidays, weekends, and sleep-in shifts.

To apply, submit your CV and respond to the four application questions on the advertised listing. The closing date is 18 October 2026, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short first-round virtual interview (approximately 10–15 minutes) to explore application question responses. If successful, you will be invited to meet the team at Extended HOPE for a face-to-face interview. For any questions about the role, including flexible working requests, transferable skills, or barriers to employment, contact the residential recruitment team at residentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk.

About You

This role suits someone who is calm under pressure, genuinely motivated to support young people during their most vulnerable moments, and able to build trust quickly within short-term placements. Experience within mental health, clinical settings, or crisis environments would be highly valuable and would transfer well to this role.

Surrey is committed to the safe recruitment of staff in its residential homes and will work with successful candidates to complete all required checks in line with government guidance. The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent qualification; candidates who do not currently hold this qualification but meet the enrolment criteria (including English and Maths skills, at least three years of residence in the UK or EEA, and the right to remain and work in the UK for the duration of the study programme) may be enrolled in the qualification subject to funding — failure to achieve the diploma or loss of the right to work in the UK may result in the termination of employment
• Have GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent)
• Demonstrate strong teamwork skills, as the service operates as a small team with a high degree of mutual dependence
• Communicate with empathy and clarity, adapting to the evolving needs of young people in crisis
• Show the ability to respond dynamically to changing situations and remain flexible as support needs develop
• Display calmness and confidence when managing challenging or high-risk behaviour, with the ability to offer a relevant example from experience
• Have an understanding of the emotional or mental health difficulties affecting children and young people
• Hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, to support young people in attending appointments, activities, or trips
• Be aged 22 or above, in accordance with legal obligations applicable to this role

Surrey County Council is a disability confident employer. Candidates who have disclosed a disability and evidenced that they meet the minimum shortlisting criteria are guaranteed an interview. Reasonable adjustments will be made for successful applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for regulated activity and checks against the Children's and Adults' Barred Lists are required for this role. Surrey is unfortunately not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Surrey's Offer to You

Extended HOPE offers an immediate, practical environment where your impact is felt from day one. If you are successfully offered the role, Surrey will provide the training, development, and ongoing support you need to succeed and progress — including DBT training as standard for all residential staff.

Surrey County Council's benefits package includes:

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

Please note: Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If employed on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for these posts is East Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation.