Leaving Care Worker (Accommodation Team)

Somerset Council; Bridgwater; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave + bank holidays

LGPS

Hybrid working

Health & wellbeing

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking a Leaving Care Worker to join the Leaving Care Accommodation Team. The role is 37 hours per week, 1-year fixed-term or seconded, with hybrid working arrangements in Taunton and Bridgwater.

You will work directly with 18+ care leavers, supporting their move to independence, managing housing, and coordinating with multi-agency services. Applicants should have relevant qualifications and experience in leaving care or similar settings.

Qualifications

• Direct experience with care leavers (18-21) or young people in care settings.
• Strong communication and advocacy skills with families and agencies.
• Good organisation and time management to support multiple homes and reviews.

Responsibilities

• Support care leavers aged 18-21 in three homes in Taunton and Bridgwater.
• Assist with ASDAN work and practical activities to develop skills.
• Complete six-weekly reviews for key young people.
• Support housing benefit claims and reporting maintenance tasks.
• Assist with home management and ensuring access to entitlements.
• Set up rooms for new arrivals and contribute to move-in processes.

Skills

Direct work with care leavers

Communication skills

Time management

Education

GCSEs (5 subjects) at grade C/4 or equivalent

Level 3 Qualification in Children & Young People’s Workforce/Leaving Care

Job description

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., Your day-to-day work will involve:

• 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.
  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., This role can involve extensive travel, so flexibility and a willingness to travel are essential for this role.
  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.