Senior Resource Officer

The starting salary for this full-time, permanent position is £45,680 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

Make a difference where it matters most!

Are you passionate about improving the lives of children and young people? Do you have the skills to lead, influence, and drive quality in services that support some of Surrey's most vulnerable children? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Resource Officer to join our fantastic Resource Review Team based at Victoria Gate in Woking. This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office two days per week.

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 per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior Resource Officer to join our Resource Review Team which is part of the Gateway to Resources Service. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the quality and effectiveness of placements for Children Looked After and Care Leavers across the county.

The Gateway to Resources Service is at the heart of Surrey's commitment to ensuring that the children and young people we support have access to a safe, stable, and nurturing home. We work closely with internal teams and external providers to match children with the right placements, whether that's foster care, residential homes, supported accommodation, or specialist services.

Our Resource Review Team ensures that these placements not only meet regulatory standards but also help to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people. We do this through robust quality assurance, contract management, and collaborative problem-solving.

As a Senior Resource Officer, you'll be a key member of the team, supporting the Team Manager in leading a high-performing, child-focused service. You'll supervise staff, lead on complex provider relationships, and ensure that our services are safe, effective, and continuously improving.

Your work will directly impact the lives of children and young people, ensuring they are placed in environments where they can thrive. You'll also help shape the future of provider services in Surrey by contributing to service development and strategic planning.

Your key responsibilities in this role will include:

• Supervising and supporting team members, helping to create a culture of learning and high performance
• Leading contract monitoring meetings with supported accommodation providers
• Chairing meetings to address placement concerns and prevent breakdowns
• Reviewing visit reports and coaching staff to maintain high standards of reporting
• Acting as Duty Manager on a regular basis and leading the team in the absence of the Team Manager
• Liaising with fostering agencies and social care teams to negotiate 'staying put' arrangements for young people rising 18
• Overseeing and escalating concerns from Reg44 reports and cross-regional visits
• Chairing 'Review of Additional Resources' meetings for children with complex needs

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your CV and personal statement will need to clearly evidence the following:

• Understanding of provider services for children looked after and care leavers
• Experience of performance management
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse performance data
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work with external and internal stakeholders and partners
• Ability to prioritise workload, multi-task and work on initiative
• Confidence and experience in negotiation and challenge
• Commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Tuesday 1st July 2025 with interviews to be held on Friday 11th July 2025.

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.

Our Commitment

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