Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation Team)

Somerset Council; Bridgwater; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Flexible/hybrid working

Health & wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is recruiting a Leaving Care Worker for the Accommodation Team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves supporting 18+ care leavers in three homes around Taunton and Bridgwater, balancing direct work with multi-agency tasks, and managing licenses and home maintenance.

You will work on a rota (Mon-Sun, 8:30–20:00) with weekend supplements and variable hours. The role requires safeguarding knowledge and strong recording skills to track progress and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Curious and keen to learn; enjoys working directly with young people.
• Significant experience of direct work with older teenagers/young adults in care settings.
• Understanding of child development and Leaving Care legislation; safeguarding knowledge.
• Good communication, advocacy and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities, crises and stress.
• Excellent recording skills with concise, SMART entries.
• GCSEs 5+ (C/4) or equivalent; Level 3 CYP qualification.

Responsibilities

• Support care leavers aged 18-21 in three homes in Taunton and Bridgwater.
• Develop young people’s skills and support ASDAN work with practical sessions.
• Complete six-weekly reviews for key young people.
• Assist with housing benefit claims.
• Manage maintenance tasks and report as required.
• Support home management and encourage pride in homes.
• Set up rooms when young people are moving in.
• Collaborate with Leaving Care Workers to ensure access to entitlements.
• Provide information, advice and guidance to help young people live independently.

Skills

Direct work with young people

Communication skills

Advocacy and presentation

Record keeping

Time management

Crisis management

Cultural competence

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

GCSEs 5+ (C/4) or equivalent

Level 3 CYP qualification

Job description

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Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation Team)

Contract: Fixed-Term contract for 12 months

Role Purpose

Due to team members taking up various secondment opportunities, we now have another opportunity to join ourfriendlyLeaving Care Accommodation Team as a 1 year secondedor fixed termfull time(37hrs)Leaving Care Worker working directly with 18+ Care Leavers living in our own Leaving Care accommodation.

You will supporting young people whohave left our care as children, in their next step within supported accommodation and developing their independent living skills ready for move-on to their own accommodation.

Your day-to-day work will involve balancing directworkwith the young people alongside multi-agency working, recording,overseeing license agreements, and management of the houses. It can be challenging and emotionally demanding but is also rewarding.

You will work on a rota basis from Monday to Sunday, between 8.30am and 8pm. Weekend shifts attract weekend supplement pay. The rolling rotaon a monthly basismeans some weeks can be more than 37 hours, however the next week would then be less.

Key responsibilities

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• supporting care leavers aged 18-21directly in our three homes based in Taunton and Bridgwater, and recording support provided
• developing young people’s skills, and supporting them with ASDAN work, including through practical sessions
• completingsix-weekly reviewsfor key young people
• supporting with housing benefit claims
• managing maintenancetasks around the home andreportingthese asrequired
• supporting with home management, including supporting and encouraging young people to take pride in their homes
• setting up rooms when youngpeopleare moving in
• working alongsideallocatedarea Leaving Care Workers tomakesure care leavers have access to all their care leaver entitlements
• providing information,adviceand guidanceto care leavers and supporting them to access serviceswhich will help them achieve their goals and live independently as young adults.

What you’ll bring

You will need:

• To be curious, keen to learn new skills, attentive and enjoy workingdirectly with young people in a professional capacity.
• Significant experienceof direct working with older teenagers/young adults who are, or have been, in a care setting and/or young people with complex needs and challenging behaviour.
• A full understanding of child development, the needs of young people who are, or have been, in care and come from another culture. Knowledge of Child Care and Leaving Care legislation and an understanding of safeguarding issues for children and young adults.Knowledge and understanding of assessment and planning processes for young people.
• A good levelof communication,advocacyand presentation skills to enable engagement with a wide range of young people, their families,colleaguesand other agencies. Skills in engaging and influencing young people some of whom may be challenging and / or resistant to intervention.
• An ability to manage conflicting priorities,crisesand some stressful work.
• Excellentrecording skills and an ability to writegood quality, conciserecordingsthat include analysis, and are SMARTin any action setting.
• A goodall roundstandard of education to at least 5 GCSEs at Grade C/Level 4 and above or equivalent. Vocational qualification (oracquiredknowledge) equivalent to Level 3 Qualification Credit Framework Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce.
• Good organisational and time management skills, and the ability to support young people positively with this.

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:

• 28 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
• This role can involve extensive travel, so flexibility and a willingness to travel is 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.

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.