Leaving Care Worker

Somerset County Council; Bridgwater; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

LGPS pension

Health and wellbeing support

Paid volunteering opportunities

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Somerset County Council is recruiting a Leaving Care Worker to support young people aged 16 and over who are in care or have been in care.

You will work with social workers, provide personal advice from age 18, develop Pathway Plans, and help young people build skills for independent living.

Qualifications

• Direct experience working with young people aged 16–25.
• Ability to engage and build trusting relationships with young people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of care-experienced young people, including mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, and child and adolescent development.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection.
• Experience in and understanding of multi-agency working.

Responsibilities

• Support young people 16-25 who are, or have been, in the care of Somerset Council.
• Work alongside social workers to help young people plan for adulthood.
• At 18, assume the role of their personal advisor, continuing to support young people in setting and achieving personal goals.
• Liaise with the young person, their family, carers, social worker and other relevant multi-agency professionals in co-developing and reviewing Pathway Plans with and for young people.
• Support young people in finding suitable housing, whether they're leaving their foster home, moving out of supported accommodation, or facing homelessness.

Skills

Direct experience with young people

Engagement and relationship building

Care-experienced youth knowledge

Trauma-informed practice

Safeguarding

Multi-agency collaboration

Job description

Leaving Care Worker

Salary: £29,542 - £33,119 per annum.

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week.

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 20/10/2026

Role Purpose

The Leaving Care Worker plays a vital role in supporting young people aged 16 and over who are currently in care or have previously been in the care of Somerset Council. You'll work closely with each young person and other professionals to understand what kind of support they need, looking at all areas of their life.

You'll support a group of care leavers, offering them personal support and acting as their Personal Adviser once they turn 18. This includes working with social workers and other agencies to create and review Pathway Plans.

You'll use different tools to assess each young person's needs and deliver support that helps them make positive changes in their emotions, attitudes, and behaviours. This includes helping them stay safe and healthy-physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The purpose of the role is to work directly with these young people as they begin the transition toward adulthood, helping them to build the confidence, skills, and stability they need to live independently. This involves forming strong, trust-based relationships and providing consistent, trauma-informed support that recognises each young person's individual experiences, needs, and aspirations.

You'll be part of a wider team that shares responsibility for supporting care leavers, and you'll regularly take part in reflective supervision to review your practice, share learning, and ensure the best outcomes for young people.

Much of the work takes place where care leavers live, which means you'll often be visiting them in their homes or supported accommodation. This can involve extensive travel across Somerset and sometimes beyond, so flexibility and a willingness to travel are essential parts of the role.

Key responsibilities

• Support young people 16-25 who are, or have been, in the care of Somerset Council.
• Work alongside social workers to help young people plan for adulthood.
• At 18, assume the role of their personal advisor, continuing to support young people in setting and achieving personal goals.
• Liaise with the young person, their family, carers, social worker and other relevant multi-agency professionals in co-developing and reviewing Pathway Plans with and for young people.
• Support young people in finding suitable housing, whether they're leaving their foster home, moving out of supported accommodation, or facing homelessness.

What you'll bring

• Direct experience working with young people aged 16-25.
• Proven ability to engage and build trusting relationships with young people who may present with complex needs.
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of care-experienced young people, including mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Knowledge and understanding of trauma informed practice, attachment theory, and child and adolescent development.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Experience in and understanding of the collaborative nature of multi-agency working.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Additional information

• 28 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
• This role can involve extensive travel, so flexibility and a willingness to travel are essential for this role.
• This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Louise Ward - Team Leader, Leaving Care West Team 2, via email at [e-mail] .

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here: AG0995 Leaving Care Worker.pdf