Social Care in Somerset
Working together with passion, pride and intent to improve lives. That’s what Social Care’s all about here in Somerset. Everything we do is about getting closer to the community we serve and the partners we work with. We’re immensely proud of the work we do now, and we’ve big, exciting ambitions for the future – and we’d love you to join us to make them happen.
Our Social Care teams
Adult Social Care
We’re proud of what we do here in Adult Social Care – and proud to be valued for what we do. We’re working with our communities in exciting and innovative ways; promoting independence and letting our staff shape how things are done. So join us and make a positive difference and enjoy the freedom to drive forward change.
In 2019 we allowed BBC Panorama to spend ten months following our inspirational social workers, Occupational Therapists, providers, health colleagues, voluntary and community groups. Why? Because we believe everyone needs to know how important our work is and the difference it makes every day to thousands of people. And it’s helped push social care, and the national pressures it faces, right to the top of agenda. Precisely where it belongs.
As you can see, we’re not afraid to do things differently – and it’s clearly working. We know because our residents are telling us. Our data tells us. Our partners tell us. Our staff tell us. And our improvements are being recognised by the NHS and Local Government Association. We’re one of the most improved councils in relation to Delayed Transfers of Care, which we’ve achieved in partnership with our NHS colleagues.
And we’ve changed the way that our teams are structured and how they support and interact with each other. Operational and Commissioning colleagues work together to achieve the best outcomes for people so that they can be as independent as possible and the best that they can be.
Children’s Social Care
Strong leadership, high aspirations. That’s Children’s Social Care in Somerset right now. We’re putting our most vulnerable children at the heart of our priorities, and we’re continuing to further improve the support we give to them. Their safety is, and always will be, our number one priority.
We’re on a journey. Our improved Ofsted rating is testament to the hard work and commitment of each and every one of our colleagues. Inspectors have recognised the continuous positive improvement and praised, among other things, appropriate caseloads for newly qualified social workers and the fact that our social workers feel well supported and are receiving supervision that they value.
Of course, we’re not stopping. We’ll never stop. That’s why we’re looking for social workers that share our passion for improving outcomes for children and their families.
We’ve recently published our Somerset Children & Young People’s Plan 2019 to 2022. It’s the vision of all services working with vulnerable children and families; working in partnership to improve not just single lives but the communities that support these individuals. You can also read our Children and Young People’s Plan.
Our Somerset Children & Young People’s Plan
Our Children and Young People’s Plan
In October 2020 we adopted the Family Safeguarding Team approach. For more information, see Family Safeguarding (somerset.gov.uk).
Spotlight on... Family Solutions Somerset
We’re really proud to have launched Family Solutions Somerset – a new way of working in Children’s Services in Somerset, designed to support sustainable change to help families thrive.
Family Solutions Somerset includes our Family Safeguarding Teams, Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC), Pause and Safe Families. It’s based on our existing principles of systemic working, strengths based practice and relationship based practice.
Whichever team you join, you’ll be working to a family strengths-based approach to social work; working with families to enable them to improve their own lives.
Investing in your development: Adult's Social Care
Develop your career
We support you to grow your skills and develop your career in Somerset.
We provide a large and varied programme of in-house training to help you continue to develop your knowledge and we encourage staff to undertake specialist training and professional qualifications.
We have an award winning learning and development team. Somerset won the award for ‘Best Employer Support for Continuing Professional Development for regulated professions’ from Skills for Care in 2016.
Investing in your development: Adult's Social Care
Career development steps
We offer training and development opportunities from apprenticeship level right up to Strategic Manager level.
We are developing apprenticeships as a way of recruiting and training staff who want to start a professional career in Adult Social Care. Apprentices can benefit from on the job learning, great work experience, a degree level qualification and earn a wage.
We have a ‘Grow your Own’ scheme which gives staff the opportunity to train to achieve professional qualifications in Social Work and Occupational Therapy.
Investing in your development: Adult's Social Care
Qualified Social Workers and Occupational Therapists
can take advantage of annual training programmes of core skills development including; promoting reflective practice in supervision, mental capacity and moving and handling update. They can also benefit from specialist skills training, professional workshops, and academic learning including; Best Interest Assessor, Practice Educator training, advanced practice with adults at risk, end of life, fundamental principles of dementia and practice learning and student support (OT).
As well as working towards a Post Graduate Certificate level qualification. This can lead to staff pursuing specialist roles in housing, Home First, safeguarding, mental health and the health interface service.
Investing in your development: Adult's Social Care
Newly Qualified Social Workers and Occupational Therapists
benefit from a dedicated training programme in their first year. This includes training on safeguarding, mental capacity, equalities, human rights and foundation moving and handling. Newly Qualified Social Workers and Occupational Therapists also benefit from quarterly workshops, where they can meet other newly qualified workers.
Investing in your development: Adult's Social Care
Locality Leads, Service Managers and Strategic Managers
are offered a programme of leadership training to support them in their management positions. They can achieve a Post Graduate Diploma and Masters qualification and take on different specialist, leadership and strategic roles such as health interface, safeguarding, learning and development, transitions, finance and Best Interests Assessors.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Somerset County Council is a learning organisation, with evidenced-based practice at the heart of our work with children and families. All of our high-quality professional development opportunities are mapped to the Professional Capabilities Framework and the Knowledge and Skills Statements. We offer a progressive career pathway depending on whether you wish to step-up to a management role or to be a leader of advanced practice and take on more complex cases.
We’re also proud to support a range of routes to qualification as a social worker, from Apprenticeships to fast track programmes.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Social Work Academy
Our Social Work Academy brings together all the training opportunities available to help you make the next step in your career. We can promise you:
- Comprehensive and high-quality training, support, mentoring and supervision to help Newly Qualified Social Workers successfully complete their ASYE and build confidence in the transition from learning to practice
- Mentoring for social workers in the second year of practice
- A focus on quality regular reflective supervision for all staff
- Weekly area based CPD sessions led by our Consultant Social Workers
- Training for experienced staff to become accredited practice educators and supervisors of others.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Apprenticeships
We support the three-year Integrated Degree Apprenticeship route to qualification. It’s a practice-based route into social work and apprentices receive a wage while studying. The programme incorporates academic and workplace learning and assessment. On completion, apprentices will be eligible to apply to Social Work England for formal registration as a Social Worker.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Step Up to Social Work programme
The ‘Step Up to Social Work’ programme is an intensive 14-month, full time programme for trainee Social Workers. You’ll work for the council, gaining hands-on experience as well as academic learning. As part of the programme, you’ll complete a minimum of 170 days’ placement within the teams to gain valuable experience in the field. Other topics covered include social work ethics and practice, child development, and assessment of risk. On completion of the course, trainees will hold a postgraduate diploma in Social Work. Bursaries may be available.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Frontline
You can also qualify through Frontline, the national fast-track programme. You’ll follow a practice-based route to qualification, working closely alongside a Consultant Social Worker. You’ll also attend a five-week Summer Institute to prepare you before you start in the unit. You’ll complete a postgraduate diploma in your first year and then study towards a master’s degree in the second.
Investing in your development: Children's Social Care
Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
Our fantastic ASYE programme will help you make the transition into practicing social work. As part of the programme, you’ll have a protected caseload of up to 50% in the first six months, allowing you to access structured, tailored training and development opportunities. As part of your learning and development plan, you’ll shadow more experienced staff, have fortnightly supervision for the first six months of practice, and carry out observations and assessments. You’ll also go through comprehensive Child Protection training.
Meet some of our team
Gen Wark, Newly Qualified Social Worker
“As a lone parent with three daughters, a good work-life balance is important to me. Actually, it’s essential. I’ve been able to work part-time hours around childcare availability, and from home on occasion. The council’s support has made it possible for me to successfully juggle a young family alongside my demanding social worker role.
The support I received as a newly qualified social worker in my ASYE year was fantastic. Within my first few weeks, I’d met with my supervisor and the learning and development team to form an ASYE plan. The protected study time allowed me to have time away from the office to solely focus on my professional learning and development.
Since starting here as a student in Jan 2019, I feel that I’ve made the transition from someone who was completely new to the adults field to a fully-fledged adult social worker. Thank you, Somerset County Council.”
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