• Locations:
  (when applying, please state the area you’d like to be considered for)
  • Bridgwater
  • Taunton
    
    
• 30 days annual leave entitlement
• Work alongside award winning leaders

There is no such thing as a typical day in adult safeguarding. Every person is different; therefore, our responses will be tailored to most suitability respond to the needs of the people we support. We work to find new and innovative ways of meeting their needs. This can include liaising with partner agencies and meeting people at risk within the surroundings that they feel safest within.

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. From mentoring and peer support to test and learn days, your team will back you every step of the way. We take an inclusive, personal approach to our work and we’re looking for a social worker who shares our values to join the team.

To enable you to do this, we will give you the flexibility and autonomy to take control of your workspace. We’re not held down by traditional processes. Instead, we’ve moved to create a service where you can be brave and creative in your decision making. Whether you practice in the office, at home/remotely, or out and about with people, we will trust and support you to make changes.

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.

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 qualified Social Worker and be registered with Social Work England.
• To have a clear understanding of adult legislation, including the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act and how to implement safe practice.
• To have "Making Safeguarding Personal" at the heart of your work.
• To be keen to deliver positive outcomes by tailoring practice around individual needs and working in partnership with the community.
• To be responsive, have strong interpersonal skills, and your work will be guided by your awareness of adult safeguarding.
• 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.

• 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 10 post with a current salary of £36,124 to £40,476 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.

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 on 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 frontline leadership, and develop 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.

We actively participate in research with universities and have some of our own staff undertaking their own research.

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. 

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.