Support Time Recovery Worker

Surrey County Council; Reigate and Banstead; On-site; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in England is seeking a Support Time Recovery Worker to join their Prisons team. This role focuses on supporting prisoners at HMP Highdown and across other facilities, aiding them in accessing essential services. Key responsibilities include promoting independence and navigating prison systems. The ideal candidate will possess experience in mental health and working with individuals with disabilities. This full-time, permanent position offers a starting salary of £30,647 per annum with various benefits including annual leave and health support.

Benefits

26 days' holiday rising with service

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to learning and development resources

Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in social care settings, particularly with individuals who have disabilities.
• Ability to work flexibly across various locations and establish rapport with service users.
• Empathetic and resilient personality to handle challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Support prisoners in accessing healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
• Assist with personal care, manage correspondence, and maintain cleanliness.
• Participate in reviews and assessments, working closely with Social Workers.

Skills

Experience of working across older persons, mental health, learning disabilities or physical disabilities

Self-motivation with the ability to demonstrate a high level of autonomous working

Flexibility in challenging environments

Job 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.

The starting salary for this full-time, permanent position is £30,647 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be recruiting a Support Time Recovery Worker to join our fantastic Prisons team. This position is based at HMP Highdown, Highdown Lane, Sutton, SM2 5PJ with the expectation to attend and support across all Surrey prisons when required.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• 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 dependents 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 Role

The implementation of the Care Act (2014) means Surrey County Council now holds social care responsibilities whilst prisoners reside in Surrey Prisons. This is an exciting and developing area of social care and we are looking to appoint a full time Support Time and Recovery Worker to join our team to deliver social care into prisons.

As a Support Time Recovery Worker, you'll help prisoners access vital services like healthcare, education, and work opportunities. Working closely with Social Workers and Occupational Therapists, you'll motivate individuals to build independence in daily living, navigate prison systems, and prepare for life after release. It's a challenging but rewarding role for someone who's empathetic, resilient, and passionate about supporting others to make positive changes.

A typical day in this role involves visiting service users on the prison wings and providing support in-line with their individual support plans. This may include assistance with personal care, managing correspondence, maintaining the cleanliness of their living spaces, and helping them integrate into the prison environment.

You will work directly with individuals who have a range of disabilities, including mental health conditions, learning disabilities/ASD, and physical impairments. You'll also participate in reviews and assessments alongside your team and maintain regular contact with other professionals within the prison, attending scheduled meetings as required.

The role includes a reablement element, focusing on promoting independence and supporting individuals with physical needs and other challenges.

Although you will be linked to a designated prison there is an expectation that you will work across other establishments as needed, helping to maintain service coverage seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm. However, most working is between 9am to 5pm, weekdays.

You will be required to work face-to-face with service users, providing direct support. However, there will be opportunities to work from home for tasks such as recording case notes, attending virtual meetings, and completing training.

As part of the position, you will be required to complete Ministry of Justice (MOJ) checks and will be issued keys to access the prison and move independently within the wings.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with :

• Experience of working across older persons, mental health, learning disabilities or physical disabilities
• Self-motivation with the ability to demonstrate a high level of autonomous working
• Flexibility and ability to to working in challenging and demanding environments

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

• Please tell us what interests you most about working as a Support Time Recovery Worker within prison settings?
• Please describe your experience of working within adult social care (e.g., older persons, mental health, learning disabilities, or physical disabilities). How has this experience prepared you for supporting individuals in a prison environment?
• Please tell us about a time when you worked with compassion and resilience in a challenging or demanding environment. What approach did you take, and what was the outcome?
• Please tell us what skills, abilities, and experience you have, whether from previous roles or other contexts, that you believe would help you succeed in this role? Please include any transferable skills.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and candidates 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.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and to get an insight into working at Surrey.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20/01/2026 with interviews to follow.

Contact Us

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

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 1st 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.

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:

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Recovery Worker • Highdown Lane, Sutton, SM2 5PJ