Social Care Assistant

Surrey County Council; Woking; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England is seeking a Senior Social Care Assistant to support vulnerable adults and their families. The role involves assessing needs, coordinating care services, and working with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes. Applicants should have substantial social care experience and the ability to work with individuals who have various impairments. The starting salary is £33,552 per annum, with benefits including holiday entitlements and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

26 days holiday, increasing with service

Generous pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Substantial experience of working directly with people with social care needs.
• Confidence and competence in working with a variety of impairments.
• Willingness to learn different software systems.

Responsibilities

• Assess individual's needs and carry out regular reviews.
• Support vulnerable adults and their families in identifying services.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Experience with social care needs

Working with physical and cognitive impairments

Basic IT skills

Job description

Overview

As a Senior Social Care Assistant you will be part of a team and will have access to direction, support and supervision from a qualified Social Worker. You will have frequent direct contact with the public on the phone as well as visit them in their own home or care setting. Your role will involve a variety of tasks including assessing people's needs and carrying out regular reviews. You will work in partnership with individuals, their carers, professional staff in Surrey County Council and other agencies and service providers in order to support vulnerable adults and their families. You will identify and arrange services that meet their needs and promote independence, choice and control. You will have a caseload, working with individuals who need additional support or guidance in order to identify their needs and carry out risk assessments, and will be involved in supporting safeguarding investigations and attending safeguarding meetings with the support of qualified practitioners. You may work with any combination, or all, of the following care groups: older people; people with physical, sensory, cognitive impairments and people with mental health problems.

Interview Questions

1. Considering the Council's commitment to ensuring that "no one is left behind", what motivates you to take on a senior role within Adult Social Care, and how do you see yourself contributing to the service improvement?
2. Please describe your experience in managing complex cases and working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. How have these experiences prepared you for the responsibilities of a Senior Social Care Assistant?
3. What three qualities do you possess that will enable you to excel as a Senior Social Care Assistant? How do these qualities support Surrey County Council's culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and adaptability, particularly in guiding and influencing others?

Key Service Areas

• Connect to Community – a dynamic front-door service providing immediate support and guidance.
• Area Teams – a dedicated service focused on longer-term assessment and reviews.

Further details about these services can be found in the attached document titled 'C2C and Area Team Information'. The new model is scheduled to go live on 1 March 2026. At this stage, the advertised role will either sit within the newly created Connect to Community or Area Teams. This will be confirmed in due course. Please note there may be some flexibility regarding the service and location as the implementation progresses. The hiring manager will keep you informed throughout the recruitment process.

Qualifications & Experience

• Substantial experience of working directly with people with social care needs, including completing strength-based assessments and visiting them in their own homes or care settings.
• Confidence and competence in working with people with a variety of physical and cognitive impairments.
• Competence in basic IT skills with a willingness to learn how to use a variety of different software systems.

Driving & Travel

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 and 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.

Structural Changes

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1 April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation – Surrey County Council Our Commitment.

Salaries & Benefits

The starting salary for this role is £33,552 per annum for working 36 hours per week. We are excited to be recruiting a Senior Social Care Assistant to join our fantastic team, based at Victoria Gate, Woking. We offer agile working and are happy to discuss what it means for this team. We would love you to join us as we strive to best support our valued Surrey residents, ensuring no one is left behind.

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years’ service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (prorated for part-time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary-related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Team

We are a caring and committed team serving residents living in Woking 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. The team works 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.