Support Worker - Guildford

Surrey County Council; Guildford; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Guildford is hiring a full-time Support Worker to assist vulnerable adults in Supported Living. The role involves direct support to promote independence, with full training provided. Responsibilities include cooking, personal care, and engaging with the community. This is an opportunity to make a significant positive impact on residents' lives. The position offers a starting salary of £27,634 per annum, benefits like a generous pension, and numerous opportunities for leave and enhancements.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, rising to 31 with service

Generous pension

Weekend and Bank Holiday Enhancements

Free on-site parking

Paid training hours

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Must hold a full UK driving licence.
• No formal qualifications required, but knowledge and sensitivity to the needs of people with learning disabilities is essential.
• Adaptability to different situations while maintaining a person-centred approach.

Responsibilities

• Support adults with learning disabilities to promote independence.
• Engage in direct practical interactions including cooking and personal care.
• Organise shifts and coordinate activities with colleagues.

Skills

Compassionate approach

Emotional intelligence

Flexibility

Knowledge of learning disabilities

Job description

This role has a starting salary of £27,634 per annum, based on working 36 hours per week. This salary will be pro-rated for part time working.

Please be aware that unfortunately this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship at this time.

We have a vacancy for a full time Support Worker and are looking for individuals who are seeking a role that will allow them to help make a difference to vulnerable adults living in Supported Living accommodation in Guildford.

We are looking for people who are motivated and committed to improving the lives of others and who have a desire to empower and promote independence. This role will enable you to have a significant positive impact on the lives of our residents and is extremely rewarding.

Must hold full UK driving licence - driver essential for this role.

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.

In addition to the above, we also offer our Support Workers the following:

• Weekend and Bank Holiday Enhancements - 50% extra pay per hour worked
• Sleep-in Enhancement - £45 per sleep-in
• The opportunity to gain professional social care qualifications, including The Care Certificate
• Free on-site parking for staff
• All training hours are paid
• DBS check paid for by Surrey County Council
• A thorough induction and shadowing with experienced team members to ensure you have all the skills you need to succeed

About the Team

The role is based in Service Delivery, which is the provider arm of the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care directorate. Service Delivery provides direct care to individuals living in their own homes and in-house residential establishments across Surrey, including Rodney House. The service is registered with the Quality Care Commission (CQC) and works in accordance with good practice guidance and standards.

Our Vision is to provide outstanding services and be an employer of choice with highly trained, passionate and dedicated staff.

Our Supported Living homes for adults with learning difficulties are inspected on a regular basis and we are very proud of the quality of our services for adults within Surrey. We have invested in our services, and staff, and plan to continue this in order to achieve and sustain a service that is ambitious, innovative and responsive to the needs of service users within our care.

About the Role

An interest and desire to support people with learning disabilities is essential for anyone interested in this role but prior experience working within social care is not, as full training will be provided.

As a Support Worker your main responsibility will be working with and supporting Adults with learning difficulties to create positive outcomes and promote independence. You will undertake direct practical interactions with service users; including cooking, personal care and engaging with the wider community. For those residents you are supporting, you will also engage planning, implementation and delivery of care plans.

Aside from direct support for our residents, you will also have a the responsibility of organising shifts and communicating with colleagues to plan and coordinate activities. You will also have the duty of working in partnership with other agencies, creating reports and attending and contributing to reviews as required.

Shortlisting Criteria

You don't need any formal qualifications to apply for Support Worker positions; you simply need to have the right qualities and behaviours:

• Knowledge and sensitivity to the needs of people with learning disabilities, ensuring a compassionate and supportive approach.

• A willingness to encourage and support people with learning disabilities to access activities and facilities in the community.
• Respect for the cultures and beliefs of the people we support.
• An ability to stay calm and positive in challenging situations, adapting to different circumstances while maintaining a focus on the needs of the people you support.
• The resilience and emotional intelligence to handle challenging situations. Every day is different and can throw up its own challenges and pressures. You need to be adaptable but able to follow guidelines with a consistent, person-centred approach.
• A flexible attitude, both to the level of care required by the people we support as well as the time requirements of the role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 23/11/2025 with interviews to follow.

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.

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

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!

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.