Supported Lodgings Officer

The starting salary for this position is £32,512per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We currently have a vacancy for a Supported Lodgings Officer within the Supported Lodgings Team.

The Supported Lodgings scheme offers semi-independent accommodation for 16-25 year olds who are leaving the care system but are not quite ready to live independently. We are a small, friendly and effective team; committed to providing the best service that we can. The work we do is critical as we recruit, asses and support carers who offer family based supported lodgings.

The role is based out of Reigate, however it covers the whole of Surrey so you will need to be willing and able to travel throughout the County. There will also, on occasion, may be the requirement to work some evenings.

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 plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

The Supported Lodgings Team sits in the Fostering Service within Surrey Childrens Services and comprises of seven team members. Our aim is to ensure that young people aged 16-25 are supported in family style semi-independent accommodation to help them prepare for independent living. This ensures that they are able to develop the skills and confidence they need alongside being able to make use of the resources available to Surrey Residents. As an employer Surrey offers a comprehensive training package with a focus on career progression and developing skills and knowledge to benefit colleagues and residents alike

About the Role
The Supported Lodgings Officer is a challenging but highly rewarding role, as every day you will see the impact your work has on the lives of the young people we support. The work is varied, and no two days will be the same so you'll need to be adaptable and enjoy a challenge!

Working closely together with the team and directly with our young people, you'll be involved in the following:

• Acting as a first point of call for all our Support Lodgings carers, helping them with their queries and concerns
• Taking part in referral interviews with our young people to assess their suitability for the scheme
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with prospective carers and supporting them through their journey towards approval
• Undertaking initial and supervisory visits to our Carers
• You'll also play an active part in organising and attending Lodgings Support events and monitoring and updating our social media.

It is a very varied role, with lots to get involved in, but we will provide you with comprehensive support together with excellent in-house training to ensure your professional development and competence, so you are both able and empowered to fulfil the role and progress!

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Experience of working with children or young people in a paid or voluntary setting and a good understanding of the needs and experiences of young people who have been in care
• Effective relationship building and communication skills with a good standard of literacy, to be able to write reports
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Good IT skills
• Ability to work effectively to timescales in a busy environment

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 14/07/2024 with interviews to follow.

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

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications 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.