Adult Social Care Practitioner

Some key information

• Location: Somerset
• Part time: 26 hours per week
• Salary: £20,095 rising to £22,529 annually
• Hybrid working options
• 28 days annual leave
• Must have access to/use of a vehicle
• Opportunity of joining the path to becoming a fully qualified Social Worker

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this position as it does not meet the requirements of the home office
What will I be doing?

This role is based in the Safeguarding Service Triage Team. As an Adult Social Care Practitioner (ASCP) in the service, you will help protect people from abuse and neglect and ensure that people's wishes are heard.

With guidance and direction from a social work manager you will:

• Gather and analyse information to support safeguarding decision-making
• Make contact with people who are at risk of, or experiencing abuse and neglect, and speak with family members and professionals
• Be professionally curious about the information you gather, and
• Contribute to safeguarding enquiries and protection plans

The team
You will be working as part of a fast-paced and supportive team focused on protecting people who are at risk of, or experiencing abuse and neglect. Learning and development is important to the team and there are opportunities for progression including social work and occupational therapy apprenticeships.

To succeed in the team, you'll need to have good communication skills, a can-do approach and commitment to upholding people's human rights. This is a hybrid role but it is important to know that the team works together at County Hall, Taunton one day a week so you will need to be available to come into the office on Tuesdays.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But to be successful in these roles, you will need:

• Previous experience of working with people in a social care setting/role.
• An interest in working with people and understanding what matters to them.
• Enthusiasm to support people to achieve positive outcomes and working in partnership with the community and their networks.
• Be responsive, have strong interpersonal skills.
• Access to/use of a vehicle which is an essential requirement for this role.
• Preferable, but not essential, some experience of adult safeguarding. Full training and support will be provided once appointed to the role

What's in it for me?

At Somerset Council, we work hard to attract the best staff and we want to make sure that once you are on board, you are well supported and rewarded for the work you do.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• This grade offers 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to request to buy up to 2 weeks additional annual leave pro rata
• Hybrid working options where the role allows
• A clear career pathway with apprenticeships, professional, leadership and academic programmes and qualifications, regular CPD opportunities and a corporate coaching and mentoring scheme
• A new comprehensive induction programme supported by Practice Development Advanced Practitioners, plus a confidential and impartial welcome call to ensure your induction goes smoothly
• Ongoing support & development opportunities – regular CPD events arranged and delivered by our dedicated Adult Social Care Learning and Development team, including an annual Carnival of Practice event with key speakers such as the Chief Social Worker, a team of Advanced Practitioner – Practice Development roles to support our workforce, personalised personal development plans, a corporate coaching and mentoring scheme.
• Local Government pension scheme
• Employee support networks that acknowledge and celebrate the richness of diversity and equality within our workforce
• Guaranteed Interview Schemes – Disability Confident, Veterans, Care Leavers
• Employee assistance and support offering a variety of wellbeing services and events to support a healthy work/life balance inc. a free online gym offer, dedicated Mental Wellbeing Ambassadors and much more
• Access to the Blue Light Card which offers thousands of discounts online and on the high street
• My Staff Shop which offers a variety of discounts including; cinemas, shopping, restaurants, gym discounts and more
• Discounted lease car options via salary sacrifice, along with discounts on fuel
• Cycle to work scheme

Anything else I should know?

Due to the nature of the role and the geographical area of the service across Somerset, which is a largely rural county, with limitations around public transport the ability to be able to travel to any location is essential. Therefore, applicants must have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.
We recognise and welcome applications from disabled individuals who may require reasonable adjustments to meet this requirement, and we're happy to discuss this from the first point of contact with the recruitment team.
This is a Grade 12 post with a current salary of
£20,095 rising to £22,529
per annum for 26 hours per week. The starting salary would normally be at the minimum point of the grade.

Got a question about becoming an Adult Social Care Practitioner with Somerset Council? Please contact Ranjana Sharma, Safeguarding Service Manager –

We are a socially active council and run many webinars and events, team away days, volunteering opportunities plus, hold regular staff Q&A sessions. We encourage professional development and training to support your learning and aspirations. And there are also a variety of networking groups and activities that you can join.

We're proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve so we will always welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our teams. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there's anything you want to talk about before you apply.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early if we have received a sufficient number of applications, so don't delay, apply today

A Bit More About Somerset Council
We are reclaiming narratives about social work and believe in the power of lived experiences of people (including workers) and sharing stories. To get a sense of this, listen to the Social Work Sessions podcast.

Somerset is situated in a beautiful, rural county in a central southwest location but with good city links. With scenic countryside, historic sites, charming towns and villages, family-friendly attractions, beaches, festivals (Glastonbury) and events, outdoor activities, zoos, water parks and plenty of local produce to try, there's something for everyone

DBS information

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.