Supported Lodgings Officer

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

We are excited to be hiring a new Supported Lodgings Officer to join our fantastic Supported Lodgings Team based out of Reigate. The role 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 or weekends.

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 Supported Lodgings Team sits in the Fostering Service within Surrey Children's Services. Our aim is to ensure that young people aged 16-25, who are leaving the care system but are not quite ready to live independently, 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.

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 can offer family based supported lodgings.

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 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 Supported 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
• Assessing prospective Supported Lodgings carers
• Undertaking initial and supervisory visits to our Carers
• Playing an active part in organising and attending Lodgings Support events and monitoring and updating our social media

This is a varied role with plenty of opportunities to get involved. We'll provide comprehensive support and excellent in-house training to help you develop professionally and build confidence, so you feel fully equipped and empowered to succeed and progress.

Your Application

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

• 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 effectively as part of a team in a dynamic environment
• Good IT skills
• Ability to work effectively to timescales

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

• Please describe your experience of working with children or young people (paid or voluntary). How has this helped you understand the needs and challenges faced by young people leaving care?
• Give an example of a time when you built a strong relationship and successfully influenced someone's decision or approach. How did you communicate effectively and what was the outcome?
• Tell us about a situation where you worked as part of a team in a fast-paced or changing environment. What was your role and how did you contribute to achieving the team's goals?
• Describe a time when you faced a challenging situation at work. How did you approach the problem, what steps did you take to resolve it, and what was the result?

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30/10/2025 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.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, 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.