• Locations:
  (When applying, please state the area you’d like to be considered for)
  
  • Bridgwater
  • Mendip
    
    
• Ideal opportunity for an experienced practitioner looking for their next step
• 30 days annual leave entitlement
• Work alongside award winning leaders

“Our goal is to empower and work with people to enable them to live gloriously ordinary lives where they are free from abuse and neglect. By providing the right support and resources, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve. It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling and independent life.”

If you're passionate about making a change and advocating for others, then you'll fit right into the councils Bridgwater and Yeovil Safeguarding teams!

We need individuals who are committed to making a difference and who are not afraid to speak up when it comes to expressing the best interests for those they support. This is an opportunity for;

• Qualified social workers looking for the chance to step up and lead change for the people we support, our staff and our communities.
• Professionals who have experience, or a willingness to learn, all about adult safeguarding in Somerset.

Advanced Practitioners must confidently lead decision-making, model best practice, and develop and grow the practice of others. The ideal candidate will share our values of respect, social justice, compassion, and empowerment.

You're day to day work will involve:

• Utilising your extensive skills and experience to guide your team to support and empower the residents of Somerset to remain independent to enable them to live longer and safely in their communities.
• Tailoring solutions around the needs of people and providing continuity of support and intervention throughout their safeguarding experience.
• Promoting independence and inclusion in everything your team does.
• Working alongside Health and Social Care colleagues to achieve the best outcomes.
• Liaising with key partners to facilitate improved provision of services, team training and recruitment.

The team

One of our colleagues has been honoured with a national award in recognition of their exceptional efforts and contributions to Safeguarding so we mean it when we say our team is our biggest resource!

As a small, close-knit service, we have a strong learning culture in place that supports practitioner growth and development. Our strength is in our communication and how we work together to find solutions. We take an inclusive, personal approach to our work and we’re looking for advanced practitioners to support and enhance the team to achieve great outcomes for the people we support.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced practitioner who wants to further develop their practice and professional leadership in teams.

There is an element of office based and community working as well as working remotely from home.

Somerset Council are proud to offer an environment that’s changing to create the right environment for excellent practice and for working with people to develop gloriously ordinary lives for the people we support.

We offer ongoing support, training, and guidance to help you be the best you can be.

To be successful in these roles, you will need:

• To be a registered social worker with Social Work England with an enhanced continuous development record.
• Experience of working to an advanced social work level
• Autonomous in your decision making of adult safeguarding situations.
• A strong sense of social justice and of working from a strengths based social work perspective.
• A sound knowledge of the legal literacy within social care
• Have access to/use of a vehicle is an essential requirement for this role

At Somerset Council, we work hard to attract the best staff and we want to make sure that once you are on board, you are well supported and rewarded for the work you do.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• This grade offers 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to request to buy up to 2 weeks additional annual leave pro rata.
• Hybrid working options where the role allows.
• A clear career pathway with apprenticeships, professional, leadership and academic programmes and qualifications, regular CPD opportunities and a corporate coaching and mentoring scheme
• A new comprehensive induction programme supported by Practice Development Advanced Practitioners, plus a confidential and impartial welcome call to ensure your induction goes smoothly.
• Ongoing support & development opportunities – regular CPD events arranged and delivered by our dedicated Adult Social Care Learning and Development team, including an annual Carnival of Practice event with key speakers such as the Chief Social Worker, a team of Advanced Practitioner – Practice Development roles to support our workforce, personalised personal development plans, a corporate coaching and mentoring scheme.
• Local Government pension scheme
• Employee support networks that acknowledge and celebrate the richness of diversity and equality within our workforce.
• Guaranteed Interview Schemes – Disability Confident, Veterans, Care Leavers
• Employee assistance and support offering a variety of wellbeing services and events to support a healthy work/life balance inc. a free online gym offer, dedicated Mental Wellbeing Ambassadors and much more!
• Relocation of up to £8,000, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.
• Access to the Blue Light Card which offers thousands of discounts online and on the high street
• My Staff Shop which offers a variety of discounts including; cinemas, shopping, restaurants, gym discounts and more!
• Discounted lease car options via salary sacrifice, along with discounts on fuel
• Cycle to work scheme

Full and part time hours can be considered depending on team and location.

This is a Grade 9 post with a current salary of £40,476 to £44,711 per annum. Appointments are normally made at the bottom of the salary scale.

We are flexible when it comes to interviews as these can be conducted in person, or virtually over MS Teams.

Got a question about becoming an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker in the adult safeguarding service? If you would like to meet the team and find out more about our day to day work, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Helen Readdy at helen.readdy@somerset.gov.uk

We are a socially active council and run many webinars and events, team away days, volunteering opportunities plus, hold regular staff Q&A sessions. We encourage professional development and training to support your learning and aspirations. And there are also a variety of networking groups and activities that you can join.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve so we will always welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our teams. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early if we have received a sufficient number of applications, so don't delay, apply today!

Investment

We have recently invested £1.4m into our workforce. As a result, we have substantially increased the number of social work, occupational therapy, advanced practitioner and other leadership posts. We’ve also increased; Adult Social Care Practitioner roles, introduced Occupational Therapy Assistants and strengthened our Business Support. This investment is enabling us to re-focus on providing excellent social work and occupational therapy practice and doing the right thing, with and for, the people we serve.

Smaller specialist teams

We have created smaller neighbourhood teams who will know and be part of their local communities, alongside new specialist teams including Mental Health Social Care, Learning Disabilities and Adult Safeguarding.

Additional posts

We have created additional Advanced Practitioner Posts to provide compassionate and visionary leadership, and developed effective, supportive teams with a strong sense of identity and belonging.

There are also new Practice Development Advanced Practitioner Posts within teams/services focusing on practice, social work values, human rights, social justice, anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice, and providing practice education, quality assurance and CPD.

Competency framework linked to Career pathways

We have launched a Competency Framework linked to a career pathway, and professional, leadership and academic programmes and qualifications.

We are prioritising the prevention agenda including our Occupational Therapy Service developing Somerset Independent Living Centres across Somerset.

Ambitious

We are ambitious and are working to make real change happen. We want relationship-based practice, compassionate leadership and co-production with the people we work with and serve, to be at the heart of all we do.

We are reclaiming narratives about social work and believe in the power of lived experiences of people (including workers), and sharing stories. To get a sense of this, listen to Social Work Sessions podcast: Social Work Sessions

You will be working alongside nationally recognised professionals with staff shortlisted for “Social Worker of the Year” awards 2022 and 2023.

We have a supportive and friendly culture… Don’t believe us? Checkout our Glassdoor rating.

Not currently living in Somerset? Don’t worry! Subject to meeting qualifying conditions, we offer relocation of up to £8,000.

Somerset has plenty to offer! Situated in a beautiful, rural county in a central southwest location but with good city links. With scenic countryside, historic sites, charming towns and villages, family-friendly attractions, beaches, festivals (Glastonbury!) and events, outdoor activities, zoos, water parks and plenty of local produce to try, there’s something for everyone!

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.