• There a multiple positions across East and West Somerset
• 33 days annual leave entitlement
• Continual professional development & opportunity to be part of employee development

As Service Manager, you are integral to our new team structure, supporting our Strategic Manager for Neighbourhoods and sitting within our management team.

Supporting staff with professional development, you will develop good practice and confidence in managing risk and making informed, evidence-based decisions. Using a strengths-based approach, you will support and enable the team to collaborate with individuals, families/carers, and other professionals to complete assessments and to be creative in how we achieve good outcomes for our citizens with a focus on enabling people to retain their independence and to prevent or delay the need for longer term support.

You will be working in collaboration with health, therapy and community colleagues and so experience of collaborating with system partners is essential. As service manager, your responsibility is to ensure that the work of the team is undertaken in line with organisational requirements including any business/governance processes, and that the service response is delivered promptly, effectively organised and evidenced.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. You will need to have:

• A recognised Social Worker professional qualification and are registered with the Social Work England.
• Have or are prepared to gain an appropriate management qualification and be able to demonstrate significant post-qualification personal development.
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of frailty and chronic ill health and its effects on individuals/carers/family with people their families and carers.
• Experience of practice teaching/supervising/ coaching and/or managing staff
• Experience of working in partnership with statutory/voluntary organisations to promote the independence of service users.
• Experience of managing within allocated resources.
• Knowledge of Performance Management in health and social care settings
• An understanding of the principles of citizen directed support.
• The ability to prioritise between conflicting demands.
• The ability to work as a member of a team and to build working relationships with colleagues in a wide range of partner agencies is vital.
• IT, report writing and communication skills.

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 33 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 8 post with a current salary of £46,464 per annum.

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.

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: Angela King 07866 789390 Angela.King@Somerset.gov.uk or Kate Perring 078550 88019 Katherine.Perring@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.