• We have positions available in the following locations:
  • South Somerset
  • Mendip
  • Taunton
• Hybrid working options
• 30 days annual leave

We are happy to be contacted and for you to visit the office and team to answer any specific questions you might have.

Advanced Practitioners work closely with their team, health and community colleagues to gain an in-depth understanding of community resources that can facilitate and build independence, maintaining people’s ability to remain living in their own community networks and working with a strengths-based approach.

• You will be required to work in the office base a minimum of 2 days per week, whilst the rest of your working week you can use technology to ensure team communication and support and work in a hybrid model.
• Utilising your extensive skills and experience to guide your team to support and empower the residents of Somerset to remain independent for longer in their communities.
• Tailoring solutions around the needs of residents and providing continuity of support and intervention.
• Promoting independence in everything your team does
• Working alongside Health and Social Care colleagues (as part of the neighbourhood PCN’s)
• Liaising with key partners to facilitate improved provision of services, team training and recruitment.
• Involved in developing, shaping, and building integrated care local services.
• You will be responsible for supervising registered Social Workers and Adult Social Care Practitioners within your neighbourhood

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

The Team

East neighbourhoods cover East and West Mendip, Yeovil, South Somerset West, South Somerset East and CLIC (Chard, Langport, Ilminster and Crewkerne).

In Bridgwater or North Sedgemoor we have 2 neighbourhood areas

In Taunton and West Somerset we have 4 neighbourhood areas – Taunton Central, Taunton North, Taunton South and West Somerset.

We are a busy but supportive team of Social Workers, Adult Social Care Practitioners and Occupational Therapists. Each neighbourhood area has a designated Advanced Practitioner and Service Manager, who you will directly report to.

Advanced Practitioners will take responsibility and have a lead role in managing contacts coming through our front door, managing risk, resources, and workflow within their neighbourhood with support from their Service Manager.

We offer regular supervision, training, and opportunities to develop your leadership and management skills and knowledge. You will work alongside Practice Development Advanced Practitioners and contribute to team development.

Opportunities for career progression will be discussed in supervision as part of your ongoing learning objectives and opportunities to progress will be explored to ensure continued professional development.

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

• Be a qualified Social Worker and be registered with Social Work England.
• Have access to/use of a vehicle is an essential requirement for this role.

A,t 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
• 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

This is a Grade 9 post with a current salary of £39,186 - £43,421 per annum. Appointments are normally made at the bottom of the salary scale.

All Advanced Practitioner Social Worker interviews will be face-to-face.

We are a socially active council and run many webinars, events and 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.

Got a question about becoming an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker with Somerset Council? Give Helen Readdy, Recruitment & Engagement Officer a call on: 01823 355166 / 07977410483 or email: Helen.Readdy@somerset.gov.uk

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.