Job details

Salary: £40,476 to £44,711 per annum

Department: Social Care

Working pattern: Full Time

Location: Taunton

Closing date: 5 August, 2025

About the job

Some key information

  • We are happy to consider flexible working patterns – we work hard to sustain a good work-life balance and are passionate about maintaining a positive and supportive working culture
  • 30 days annual leave
  • Extensive training opportunities to support you in this role
  • You would join a small, friendly and experienced team providing support to care experienced young people in supported accommodation
  • Permanent, full time for 37 hours and based in Taunton

What will I be doing?

We’re working to improve the lives of Vulnerable Looked after Children and Care Leavers in Somerset – and as a Team Leader, you’ll be a key part of that.

Within this role, you will:

  • Lead a small, friendly and dedicated team of Leaving Care Workers who are committed and passionate about the support they provide to care experienced young people.
  • Manage high quality homes for Care Leavers aged 18-21, and ensure that they are well-supported, receive a professional and consistent service, that their welfare is safeguarded, their needs are met, that purposeful interventions are planned and delivered, and outcomes well-evidenced.
  • Benefit from the wider support from other Leaving Care Team Leaders, and CLA Team Managers, within the wider management team.
  • Work contractual hours Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm (4.30pm on a Friday), however you will be managing and leading a team which works across 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm on a rolling rota, covering evenings and weekends including bank holidays, so at times flexible working may be needed.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

  • Overall management and supervision of members of the Leaving Care Accommodation team.
  • Management and oversight of the accommodation and support provision in the Supported Houses and all health and safety compliance aspects of running the houses.
  • Management and oversight of Stepping Stones hosts (supported lodgings), including recruitment and retention.
  • Attending and participating in Panels and Management meetings.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

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

  • Have previous experience of residential work preferably in a management position.
  • Have experience of working with Care Leavers and/or Looked After children.
  • Hold at least a Level 5 qualification in Child Care or being willing to train towards this.
  • Are willing to be registered as a Nominated Individual under the new Ofsted regulations.
  • Have proven ability to supervise others, to give advice and feedback when required, as well as provide training.
  • Have proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of teams and other professionals.
  • Demonstrate excellent recording skills and good organisational and time management skills.

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.

What's in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

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

  • We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
  • Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
  • Staff discounts in gyms.
  • Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
  • Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
  • A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
  • My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

Anything else I should know?

The salary range for this role is £40,476 to £44,711 per annum.

Appointments are normally made at the bottom of the salary scale.

Whilst this role can involve some working from home, you will need to live within travelling distance of the homes based in Taunton and Bridgwater, in order to spend time working alongside the teams, and overseeing the homes, on a regular basis. You will need to have access to a vehicle and a full driving licence.  If necessary, adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010.

For more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact Operations Managers Annabelle Sargeant on 01278 447736/ annabelle.sargeant@somerset.gov.uk or Cally Hargrave on 07585 307028/ cally.hargrave@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.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you.

A bit more about Somerset Council

We’re a hugely ambitious council, committed to improving lives for the residents, communities and businesses of Somerset.

And that’s why we’re working so hard to build a sustainable organisation with a culture that rewards, values and recognises our staff, and gives everyone here the opportunity to grow and develop, personally and professionally.

If you’re looking for a place where you work truly matters – where YOU truly matter – we might be just right for you.

We also promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.

DBS information

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