Advanced Practitioner Practice Development – Health Interface Service (Adults)

• This is a great development opportunity for experienced practitioners to progress their career. Apply your skills to support and develop staff, enabling them to achieve their full potential.
• Location: Countywide
• 30 days annual leave entitlement

We are seeking an Advanced Practitioner - Practitioner Development Social Worker to support our service. This role combines operational work with practice development, focusing on new ways of working in the Health Interface Service (HIS), such as the Transfer of Care Hub and Care Coordination Hub. It involves working in a dynamic hospital environment where decision-making is fast-paced and centered on the individual.

Our goal is to improve and refine practice while staying engaged with daily operations to ensure optimal outcomes for our service users. Collaboration with the PDAP in Intermediate Care is crucial due to the close alignment of our services.

We are looking for someone willing to work across our countywide service. Our staff work in acute hospitals covering Somerset, predominantly Yeovil District Hospital and Musgrove Hospital in Taunton, with additional coverage at Weston General and Royal United in Bath. You must be prepared to travel across the county and be a visible presence as needed.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide high-quality leadership in Adult Social Care.
• Support and work alongside HIS Advanced Practitioners.
• Focus on practice development and improvement while managing operational functions.
• Help adults stay independent by working with their families and communities.
• Provide high-quality, integrated social care, health, and wellbeing services.
• Ensure timely hospital discharge and prevent admissions.
• Empower individuals to control their care services.

Service delivery is guided by The Care Act principles and professional codes of practice.

This role includes:

• Working autonomously and as part of a team to create innovative approaches for service users, their families, and carers.
• Possessing extensive knowledge of social work practice, especially in risk management for adults with various conditions.
• Supporting staff with complex casework, chairing meetings, and ensuring compliance with Social Care legislation.
• Implementing system thinking to reduce demand and costs.
• Providing critical reflection, challenge, and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Offering professional social work opinions based on advanced knowledge.
• Supporting and assessing learners and new social workers.
• Promoting practice education and development opportunities.
• Engaging in service-based practice development and improvements.
• Attending team meetings to disseminate learning and provide leadership.
• Facilitating quality assurance, including reflective practice groups and audits.
• Reviewing incidents according to the Learning from Serious Incidents Policy.
• Contributing to assurance activities.

Please note that the above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and these responsibilities are not exclusive to PDAPs.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But to be successful in the role you will:

• Need to be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England, with experience of working in Adult Social Care. It is essential that you either hold PEPS 1 and 2 or are willing to work towards these qualifications on appointment.
• Need to be a driver and have access to a vehicle as some parts of rural Somerset are not on direct transport links.
• Have commitment to high standards of professional social work practice.
• Have the knowledge and skills to link theory, social work models, research and legal frameworks to practice.
• Have the ability to hold reflective spaces, challenge constructively and influence others.
• Be committed to ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience are heard throughout your work.

In turn, you will receive regular supervision and be part of a developing network of Practice Development Leads in Somerset. You will develop and maintain strong links and working relationships with Learning and Development and the Principal Social Worker alongside having access to bespoke training to enable you to be successful in these roles.

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

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

Hospital-based social workers are essential in discharge multidisciplinary teams, ensuring a person-centred and strengths-based approach during pre-admission, hospital stays, and safe discharge. They assist individuals with complex social circumstances in making informed decisions by considering the risks and benefits of different options. These social workers are knowledgeable about mental health, mental capacity, safeguarding issues, and carers' rights.

They effectively work at the interface between health and social care, managing competing priorities and approaches. They promote returning home whenever possible while considering community support and intermediate care. Hospital social care teams maintain flow throughout the health and social care system and work efficiently at pace.

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.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Maxine Walton, Service Manager of the Health Interface Service at Maxine.Walton@Somerset.gov.uk 

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!

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

Somerset is 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!

In this role you will require a criminal background check via Disclosure and Barring Service.