Social Worker - Mental Health and LDA West

The starting salary for this role is £43,633 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

Surrey County Council has an opportunity for a Social Worker to join Connect to Community (C2C) - a new and innovative front‑door service designed to transform how adults, carers and families access support. This is an exciting opportunity to join a service in its early stages and play an active role in embedding strengths based practice, shaping ways of working, and influencing how support is delivered at the first point of contact.‑based practice, shaping ways of working, and influencing how support is delivered at the first point of contact

This role is in our West Mental Health and Learning Disability and Autism Team and you will be based in either Woking or Guildford.

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 Connect to Community

Connect to Community (C2C) is Surrey's new single front door for Adult Social Care, developed to provide timely, proportionate and resident focused responses following initial triage. C2C brings together professionals from across social care, occupational therapy, reablement, technology enabled care and the voluntary sector into a multidisciplinary model. This approach reduces unnecessary handovers, improves consistency, and supports better outcomes for residents.

As a developing service, C2C is continuously evolving. Staff joining now will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to shaping practice models and workflows
• Influence how strengths-based conversations are embedded at the front door
• Help refine decision making processes and pathways with with partner services
• Be part of a learning culture that values professional insight and reflective practice
• Daily team meetings, led by an Assistant Team Manager, support shared decision making, professional discussion and continuous improvement.

About the Role

As a Social Worker in Connect to Community, you will deliver professional social work practice within a fast‑paced front‑door environment, supporting adults at times of change, risk or crisis. You will undertake strengths‑based assessments in line with the Care Act, working with adults, carers and families to identify outcomes and develop proportionate support plans that promote independence, wellbeing and prevention through timely advice and intervention.

You will contribute to duty and intake activity, responding to urgent situations and arranging immediate support to manage risk, while identifying safeguarding concerns and contributing to safeguarding planning with guidance from senior colleagues. You will ensure that NHS Continuing Healthcare is considered as part of your assessments and work collaboratively with partners to deliver joined‑up, person‑centred responses. Alongside your casework, you will be encouraged to share feedback, ideas and learning to support the ongoing development of the service.

Shortlisting Criteria

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

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and are registered with Social Work England
• Have completed your ASYE year
• Have applied knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding practice
• Are confident working in changeable, fast-paced environments
• Want to contribute ideas, learning and professional insight to service development
• Value collaboration, reflective practice and strengths-based working
• Experience of working with people with Mental Ill Health or Learning Disabilities and Autism

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.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 28/06/2026 with interview dates to be confirmed.

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.