Adults Senior Social Care Assistant

Surrey County Council; Weybridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council seeks a committed Senior Social Care Assistant to join the Elmbridge Locality team in Weybridge. This role empowers individuals to achieve greater independence while providing much-needed support to vulnerable adults. With a focus on collaboration, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in assessment and service facilitation, contributing to the health and wellbeing of the community.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, increasing with service

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous local government pension

Lifestyle discounts

Paid volunteering days

Learning and development hub

Qualifications

• Experience in social care and ability to assist individuals with varying needs.
• Knowledge of the Care Act legislation and its impact on practices.
• Valid driving licence and willingness to travel across a wide area.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for the public, assessing needs and directing to services.
• Support individuals in their quest for independence through strength-based approaches.
• Collaborate with caregivers and professionals to ensure comprehensive support plans.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Adaptability

Job description

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Description

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.

This position has a starting salary of £32,512 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Social Care Assistant to join our fantastic Elmbridge Locality team based in Weybridge.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• 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 dependents 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

About the Team

We are a large team that supports individuals across community and hospital settings. We celebrate diversity and believe that differences make us stronger.

Elmbridge Locality supports those from the age of 18 upwards with eligible care support needs. We provide advice and guidance, with a vast range of community resources and support networks. We strive to safeguard those who require additional support, whilst promoting independence and choice. You will always find our team friendly and approachable, supporting each other with an active reflective and learning culture. We are committed to learning and development, at both an individual and team level - this is a priority for us.

Our team is made up of Social Care and Occupational Therapy Assistants, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists. We work closely with carers, family members and partner organisations to enable residents to live their best possible lives, without leaving anyone behind. We are committed to ensuring carers and family members feel supported, given the vital role they perform in the life of those who matter most to them.

We are a caring and committed team serving residents living in Elmbridge who find themselves in need of drawing on care and support. We work with residents who are over 65 who may need care and support, as well as those 65 and younger who have physical disabilities, illness or sensory impairments.

We strive to be an open and collaborative team, with a shared aim to empower communities and people to be the best they can be. We work with a strength-based focus in how services are shaped and how needs are met. We are continually learning from each other and partners, and strive to be the best at what we do for everyone we work with. We support curiosity in all we do to find development and learning opportunities for individuals and our team.

About the Role

As a Senior Social Care Assistant you will often be the first point of contact between the public and the service, gathering initial information and determining the need for further assessment as well as signposting people to other services. You will provide effective support using a strength-based approach to enable individuals to live as independently as possible with more choice and control.

You will work in partnership with individuals, their carers, professional staff in other agencies, service providers and Support Brokers to support vulnerable adults and their families. Your role will be pivotal in identifying and arranging services that cater to their needs, fostering independence, choice and control.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact by helping people to fully realise their potential for independence. You will be well supported in your role and will benefit from a structured induction programme.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:

• The ability to empathise with, and show compassion towards, individuals in need of social care assistance
• Experience of working with people with a variety of physical and cognitive social care needs, including strength-based assessments, home visits, and support plans
• Working knowledge of the Care Act legislation and how it impacts the work we do
• The ability to independently take the initiative and adapt to shifting priorities in a dynamic environment
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, concisely, and respectfully, both verbally and in writing

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality based social care 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.

Application Questions

1. Looking at our advert, and considering the Council's commitment to ensuring that "no one is left behind", please tell us what it is about the role that has motivated you to apply?
2. Please tell us about the relevant experience or transferable skills you have that you can bring to this role?
3. What three qualities do you have that would make you a good Senior Social Care Assistant and how do these qualities support Surrey County Council's culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and adaptability?
4. A key part of the Senior Social Care Assistant role is to identify, assess, minimise and manage risk. Can you give us an example of where you have needed to assess risk? What did you think about, and what was the outcome?

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 Peter Griffin-Watts by e-mail at [e-mail] .

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 15/5/2025 with interviews to be confirmed.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

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 Values

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values .

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.

Files to download

• SSCA - Job Description (PDF)

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