About our Area Teams
Our four Area Teams are at the heart of delivering meaningful, long-term support for residents with more complex needs. These teams make a real difference by helping people live fulfilled, independent lives while ensuring consistency and high-quality practice across our services. By focusing on person-centred and strengths-based approaches, Area Teams play a vital role in promoting wellbeing and positive outcomes for every individual.
Our Area Teams are:
- West 1: Based at Millmead, Guildford, Waverley Borough Council in Godalming, or Surrey Heath Borough Council in Camberley
- West 2: Based at Victoria Gate in Woking, Weybridge Library in Weybridge, or The Ashford Centre in Ashford
- East 1: Based at Woodhatch Place, Reigate or Tandridge District Council
- East 2: Based at Dakota in Weybridge, Epsom Library in Epsom, or Pipbrook in Dorking
Our Area Team roles are:
- Social Worker and Senior Social Worker
- Social Care Assistant and Senior Social Care Assistant
- Safeguarding Advisor
- Assistant Team Manager
- Team Manager
- Duty Co-ordinator
What Area Teams do:
- Deliver ongoing support for open cases, including Care Act assessments, reviews, and Mental Capacity Act decisions.
- Manage safeguarding concerns and Section 42 enquiries, working closely with partners to keep people safe.
- Take a proactive, strengths-based approach to promote wellbeing and independence.
- Handle legal processes and manage duty for unallocated cases to ensure responsiveness.
Key principles:
- Person-centred and strengths-based practice.
- Embedding the Making Safeguarding Personal approach.
- Supporting positive outcomes and reducing risk.
Area Teams work alongside Connect to Community (C2C) and Information and advice services to ensure residents receive the right support at the right time.
Specialist services within Area Teams
Mental Health Services
Our Mental Health Area Teams provide statutory support for individuals who meet social care eligibility under the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1983. Following initial assessment and referral from Connect2Community, these teams take responsibility for ongoing case management and complex interventions. They deliver recovery-focused, strengths-based care and work closely with health and community partners to ensure holistic support.
Responsibilities include safeguarding enquiries, comprehensive social care assessments, reviews, and joint Section 117 aftercare planning. Area Teams also include specialist services such as Forensic, Substance Misuse, Enabling Independence, Prison Social Care, and Hospital Discharge. Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) within these teams undertake statutory duties under the Mental Health Act, including Mental Health Act assessments and acting as Best Interest Assessors for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Learning Disability, Autism and Transition
Our Learning Disability, Autism and Transition Area Teams provide statutory support for individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people who meet social care eligibility under the Care Act 2014. They focus on person-centred, strengths-based approaches that promote independence, choice, and inclusion.
The teams work in partnership with health, education, and community organisations to deliver coordinated care and smooth transitions—whether from childhood to adulthood or between services. Their goal is to empower individuals to live fulfilling lives, maximise independence, and access opportunities that enhance wellbeing and social participation.