Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation Team)

Somerset County Council; Bridgwater; Hybride; GBP 30 000 - 33 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension scheme

Hybrid working arrangements

Wellbeing support

Résumé du poste

Somerset County Council is recruiting a Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation) to support 18+ care leavers living in three homes in Taunton and Bridgwater. The role involves direct work, multi-agency collaboration and maintaining records to support independence.

We require experience with care leavers, safeguarding knowledge, and strong communication. The post offers hybrid working, a 37-hour week, and a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Qualifications

• Experience direct working with 18+ care leavers or young people with complex needs.
• Understanding of safeguarding issues for young people in care.
• Good communication, advocacy and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities, crises and stress.
• Excellent recording skills with SMART, concise entries.

Responsabilités

• Support care leavers aged 18-21 in three homes in Taunton and Bridgwater.
• Help develop independent living skills and ASDAN work.
• Complete six-weekly reviews for key young people.
• Assist with housing benefit claims and housing-related processes.
• Coordinate maintenance tasks and home management activities.

Connaissances

Direct work with young people

Care leavers experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication & advocacy

Time management

Accurate recording

Formation

GCSEs at Grade C/4+

Level 3 Childcare qualification

Description du poste

Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation)

Salary: £29,542 - £33,119 per annum.

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week.

Contract: Fixed-Term contract for 12 months

Closing date: 20/10/2026

Role Purpose

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

You will supporting young people who have 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 direct work with 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 rota on a monthly basis means some weeks can be more than 37 hours, however the next week would then be less.

Key responsibilities

• supporting care leavers aged 18-21 directly 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
• completing six-weekly reviews for key young people
• supporting with housing benefit claims
• managing maintenance tasks around the home and reporting these as required
• supporting with home management, including supporting and encouraging young people to take pride in their homes
• setting up rooms when young people are moving in
• working alongside allocated area Leaving Care Workers to make sure care leavers have access to all their care leaver entitlements
• providing information, advice and guidance to care leavers and supporting them to access services which will help them achieve their goals and live independently as young adults.

What you'll bring

• To be curious, keen to learn new skills, attentive and enjoy working directly with young people in a professional capacity.
• Significant experience of 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 level of communication, advocacy and presentation skills to enable engagement with a wide range of young people, their families, colleagues and 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, crises and some stressful work.
• Excellent recording skills and an ability to write good quality, concise recordings that include analysis, and are SMART in any action setting.
• A good all round standard of education to at least 5 GCSEs at Grade C/Level 4 and above or equivalent. Vocational qualification (or acquired knowledge) 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: 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 Pam Walters - Leaving Care Accommodation Team Leader 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