Job Introduction
We are committed to the development of our workforce. These positions are only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
This role has a starting salary of £42,958 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.
We are excited to be hiring three new Senior Family Group Conference Coordinators to join our fantastic Family Group Conference (FGC) service covering and supporting children and families across Surrey. We have teams that cover East and West Surrey areas and in your application you will be asked to share your preference for location.
We support hybrid and flexible working with the right balance by coming together in person and support for working from home alongside travel around the county visiting children, their family and their support network members.
Our Offer to You
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26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
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Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
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A generous local government salary related pension
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Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
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Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
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An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
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Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
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Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
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A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About the Team
The Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP) is a national programme and a central part of the government’s wider children’s social care reform agenda, as per the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. It aims to make the system work better for everyone involved - families, practitioners and leaders - by supporting earlier and more effective intervention and stronger partnership working.
A key element of the programme is the commitment to embedding family-led planning across all aspects of Family Help. For us here in Surrey this includes expanding access to Family Group Conferencing, ensuring more families can benefit from this approach at the right time. These new Senior Family Group Conference Coordinators roles will play a vital part in supporting the growth and delivery of Surrey’s Family Group Conferencing service, helping to ensure children and families receive the support they need, when they need it, helping to improve outcomes.
About The Role
As a Senior FGC Coordinator, you will take the lead in supporting FGC Coordinators on a day-to-day basis, ensuring all requests for Family Group Conferences are processed in a timely manner and authorised to a high standard. You will be required to directly and actively engage children, young people, and their wider family networks.
In this highly varied role, your key responsibilities will include:
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Facilitating Family Group Conferences, ensuring high-quality, family led planning
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Taking part in case discussions, partner meetings and performance meetings
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Taking the lead in maintaining our accreditation with the Family Rights Group by contributing to service strategies, policy and procedures
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Working closely to support the Team Manager whilst building relationships with internal and external partners
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Motivating and developing your team, colleagues, and partners in implementing the approach of putting families and wider networks first
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Building purposeful working relationships, ensuring there is close working and cooperation between Early Help services, social care colleagues and our community partners
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Creating a safe, inclusive environment for families to explore solutions and develop their own plans, via restorative, strengths-based practice
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Manage referrals, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring conferences are timely and well-organised
Your professional leadership and support will help the team deliver safe practice and effectively engage family networks to create safety by reducing or managing risk.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:
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Strong understanding of the issues faced by families of 0–25-year-olds, with extensive practice experience in this area
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Successful track record of integrated and partnership working
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Experience in assessing the needs of children and young people, delivering direct support, and working collaboratively with parents, families, carers, and wider networks to achieve positive outcomes
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Significant experience of working within Family Group Conference / Family Group decision making meetings
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Willingness to work from different sites, and some evenings and weekends if required, in line with service needs.
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and candidates will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, 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.
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.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 4 questions:
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Please tell us about your experience of working with children, young people and families in the context of Family Group Conference meetings. What key challenges have you encountered, and how have you adapted your approach to support positive outcomes?”
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How do you ensure children, families, and wider networks feel included, heard, and respected in your work?
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Please tell us about a time you worked in partnership with other professionals or agencies? What was your role, and how did your contribution support effective joined up working and shared outcomes?
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Please tell us about a time where you identified an issue or opportunity for improvement and took the initiative to make a positive difference. How did you work with others, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome?
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 6th of September 2026 with interviews planned to follow.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Linde Webber.
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! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.
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.
