Residential Worker

About the role

This is a full-time Residential Worker role based at Surrey County Council's children's home in Guildford, supporting children and young people who experience social and emotional difficulties. Residential Workers are the backbone of the home, working directly with children to provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where young people feel secure enough to be themselves.

The home operates as a 24/7 service, 365 days a year. Shifts are typically between 10 and 12 hours, worked on a rota basis that includes weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-in duties, though patterns may vary slightly depending on staffing arrangements and the needs of the children. Surrey will talk through shift patterns and rotas at the interview stage so candidates are clear on what to expect before accepting an offer.

No two days are the same. The role involves building effective relationships, co-ordinating activities and holidays, creating meaningful care plans, and working collaboratively with partner organisations. Children's Residential Workers also write reports and keep records clear and up to date. This role includes:

• Proactively engaging children in activities that promote positive physical, emotional, and social development
• Building trusting relationships with children and young people, and with colleagues and partner organisations
• Co-ordinating activities, holidays, and day-to-day home life to provide consistency and stability
• Contributing to care plans and maintaining clear, accurate records and reports
• Using de-escalation and preventative strategies to manage challenging situations, with restrictive physical intervention only ever as a last resort and only when no safer alternative exists

Car keys are held on site; workers are expected to use home vehicles to support young people attending appointments, activities, and trips.

To apply, upload your CV and answer the four application questions listed on the advert. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as you wish. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short first-round virtual interview (approximately 10 to 15 minutes), followed by an in-person interview at one of the homes. For any questions about the role, including flexible working requests or transferable skills, contact Sarah Muzzall at residentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk.

About You

Surrey welcomes applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds. What matters most is your motivation and your ability to connect with children and young people, understanding how to encourage and engage them to make healthy, meaningful, and positive choices.

Experience in residential care is valued, but so is transferable experience from education, youth work, sports coaching, mental health, probation, family services, or other people-focused roles. The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or an equivalent qualification, or be willing to work towards it; if not already held, candidates must meet the enrolment criteria (including English and Maths skills), have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for the last three years, and hold the right to remain and work in the UK for the full duration of the study programme — failure to achieve the qualification, or loss of the right to work, may result in termination of employment
• Bring a calm, proactive, and solution-focused outlook to complex and unpredictable situations
• Be able to build meaningful relationships based on trust and mutual respect with children, colleagues, and partner organisations
• Hold a valid full UK driving licence and be willing to drive home vehicles to support young people
• Be 22 years of age or above, in line with legal obligations for this role
• Be willing to disclose any allergies that may need to be reasonably managed to ensure safety in the home environment

Surrey is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who have disclosed a disability and evidenced they meet the minimum shortlisting criteria are guaranteed an interview. Reasonable adjustments will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition.

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 safe recruitment across all its residential homes and will work with successful candidates to complete all required checks in line with government guidance. Surrey is unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship at this time.

Surrey's Offer to You

Surrey's children's residential service is expanding, with further homes opening this year and beyond. There is a clearly defined career pathway: gaining the Level 3 Diploma unlocks progression to Senior Residential Worker, starting at £34,660 per annum, and the wider service offers ongoing opportunities to grow within an expanding team.

Workers have access to a wealth of personal development resources and work as part of a wider professional network that includes Psychologists and the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) service. Surrey has a proven track record of supporting staff to pass their Level 3 qualification and is proud of those achievements. Benefits include:

• 26 days' annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years'
• Option to buy up to 10 additional days of annual leave
• A generous local government salary-related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• And more, including paternity, adoption, and dependants leave