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 pathway

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 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!

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. This is a fast-paced role, based within the Hospital Team which works with all the mental health inpatient units in Somerset. The inpatient team is a small geographically dispersed team which meets regularly. Your work base will be within a locality mental health social work office which will be on the same site as some of the inpatient wards and which is co-located with community mental health teams and home treatment teams. 

The service works with adults with no upper age limit and young people transitioning to adult services.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Being the dedicated hospital worker for one or more wards, providing you with a great opportunity to build good working relationships with both inpatient and community multi-disciplinary teams.
• Using all of your social care skills to engage with people in creative ways, finding out what matters to individuals and to promote their recovery and independence.
• Working with families and local communities is central to our approach as we work to support people to live in the community following hospital admission wherever possible, as we know this achieves the best outcomes for people.

This opportunity is suitable to start or develop your career in a mental health setting, with the potential to train as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Are a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.
• Have knowledge of mental health social care and the legal frameworks that inform practise. Experience working in a mental health or hospital discharge setting will be an advantage, but it is not essential.
• Have strong social care values, flexibility, and a ‘can do’ approach.
• Are able to robustly advocate for people’s human rights.
• Access to transport is essential due to Somerset being a rural county.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

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

In return, we provide:

• 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 £8000, 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

If uploading a CV please also include a supporting statement confirming how you meet the criteria.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Teri McDonald at Teri.McDonald@somerset.gov.uk 

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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