This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £34,660 per annum based on working 36 hours per week.
We are excited to be hiring new Family Help Practitioners to work in the West of Surrey with teams covering areas including Guildford, Waverley, and Woking, and Runnymede, Spelthorne and Surrey Heath.
This is a hybrid role where the expectation is a minimum of 2 days per week in the office, as well as working in locations within our communities and directly with families.
Our Offer to You
26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service plus bank holidays
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 residentsAbout Us
The Families First Partnership Programme is transforming the way support is provided to children and families in Surrey. As part of a national reform programme, it is focused on earlier help, stronger partnership working and better outcomes for families.
At the heart of the new model is Family Help, bringing professionals together to work more collaboratively, reduce duplication and provide more joined-up support. This is an opportunity to join a service that is shaping a more integrated, relationship-based approach to working with children, young people and families.
For practitioners, this means being part of an ambitious and evolving model designed to support confident practice, clearer decision-making, stronger multi-agency working and more time focused on direct work with families.
About the Role
Our newly developed Family Help Practitioner role offers an exciting opportunity to play a key part in delivering high-quality, coordinated support to children and families. Through strong relationship-based practice, effective multi-agency working and a clear focus on improving outcomes, you will help ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
As the lead practitioner for children and families who need our help, you will be responsible for assessment, planning, intervention and coordination through a single plan. Working closely with children, families and partner agencies, you will help deliver support that is responsive, joined-up and tailored to individual needs, drawing on local services, community resources and wider support networks.
Working as part of an integrated early help team alongside qualified social workers, you will build consistent relationships that help create clearer plans, more sustained support and a better experience for families. This is a role at the heart of a multidisciplinary approach designed to improve outcomes and reduce the need for families to navigate multiple services
Key Responsibilities
Act as the lead practitioner for children and families across Family Help (Targeted Early Help and Child in Need pathways)
Lead and contribute to family-based plans, identifying strengths, needs, and appropriate areas for intervention, and setting out how shared outcomes will be achieved
Build strong, consistent relationships with children and families, providing meaningful support and constructive challenge where needed
Deliver direct interventions in homes, schools and community settings, including group-based support where appropriate
Work closely with partner agencies, social workers, safeguarding professionals and wider services to provide a coordinated response
Contribute to statutory processes where required, including escalating safeguarding concerns and supporting child protection investigations
Maintain accurate, timely and analytical case recording, ensuring the child's lived experience is clearly reflected in assessment, planning and reviewWhy Join Us?
This is an opportunity to take on a role where you can make a measurable difference to the lives of children and families in Surrey. You will be part of a service that values collaboration, consistency, and high-quality practice, and that is committed to delivering meaningful, joined-up support at the right time.
Your Application
To be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
Experience of working directly with children, young people and families in a supportive or statutory environment, or other relevant transferable experience.
Strong skills in assessment, planning, and multi-agency coordination
The ability to build credible, professional relationships with children, families and partners
An understanding of safeguarding, and child-focused practice
Confidence in delivering evidence-informed interventions that support sustained change
The ability to work autonomously and flexibly, while contributing positively to team development, reflective practice, and continuous improvementAn 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.
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and you 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.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following questions:
Please tell us about a piece of work or intervention you have led or contributed to that resulted in a positive outcome for a child or children and their family/families.
This role requires strong communication and partnership working to achieve positive outcomes for families. Please tell us about a time when you worked effectively with colleagues, partner agencies or other organisations.
Please tell us about a time when you worked with a child, young person or family in a complex or challenging situation and built a strong professional relationship that helped achieve progressThe job advert closes at 23:59 on 14.09.2026 with interviews planned to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation
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.
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 shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, 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
Salary description
£34660.00 - £36943.00 per year