About the job

Key information

• 25 days’ annual leave (plus 8 bank holiday days)
• You’ll be joining a stable team where you’ll feel supported and valued.
• We’re as flexible as we can be with shifts and will do what we can to support you to manage your work-life balance.

We’re rated GOOD by Ofsted, providing “an environment for children filled with care and love” (their words, not ours…but we do agree!). Where better to develop your career?

What will I be doing?

The Lodge, located in Taunton, offers care and support to children with learning disabilities and complex needs. We provide a short break service and play an important part of Children’s Social Care in Somerset. We focus on promoting independence, social inclusion and choice to provide individual support to children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, within a team who are passionate about the work that they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset. Our Support Workers benefit from great learning and development opportunities, along with a supportive leadership team.

Our current opportunities are for 37 hours per week and will include sleep-ins and every other weekend working. You’ll be paid £41.78 for each sleep-in and an extra £1.88 for each hour worked on Saturday and Sunday.

As a Support Worker, you will be working with children and young people to support them in all aspects of their life. This will include:

• Supporting children and young people with personal care, emotional support, and assistance with routine tasks.
• Monitoring, advising and assisting with the young person’s education and health needs.
• Working closely with the young person’s family and support network.
• Keeping the young person’s records and files up to date.
• Encouraging and maintaining the young person’s links with their community.
• Actively promoting individuals’ rights, obtaining, and documenting the views of the Child with the sole aim being a person-centred and holistic approach to their care.
• Ensuring effective safeguarding and well-being of Children & Young people.

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 it will really help if you:

• Are willing to work towards a fully funded Level 3 Diploma in children and young people or if you hold a relevant higher level qualification.
• Enjoy working with a variety of people
• Understand the importance of communicating effectively with others to promote rights and choices.

Ideally, you’ll have experience of working with children and young people in either a residential setting, childcare setting, teaching or youth work capacity – but this is not essential.

You will need to have a driving licence, access to a vehicle for work purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010.

As this is a customer-facing role, you’ll need to be able to speak fluent English.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

What we can offer you…

• Generous annual leave and flexible working options
• Great career development opportunities, including various supported routes into social work
• Local Government pension scheme
• Optional pension enhancement through our additional voluntary contribution scheme
• Employee assistance and support offering a variety of wellbeing services to support a healthy work/life balance and lifestyle
• A flexible benefits platform including cycle to work and health screening schemes
• ‘My staff shop’ which offers excellent discounts at a variety of retailers including cinemas, restaurants, clothing stores and insurance providers
• Gym discounts.

DBS check

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

Supporting documents and information

The salary range for this role is £29,183 – £31,269 per annum (remuneration package includes a £4,000 recruitment allowance per annum for 3 years)

As above, you will be paid an extra £1.88 for each hour worked on Saturday and Sunday and £41.78 will be paid for each sleep-in.

For further information or an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact: Karen Hill, Registered Manager, or Hannah Kearney, Deputy Manager on 01823 354604.

We anticipate offering and conducting interviews ahead of the closing date for suitable candidates. If offered an interview you will need to attend a mandatory pre-interview visit to The Lodge.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the necessary criteria

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button – we can’t wait to hear from you

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.

A bit more about Somerset Council

We are a hugely ambitious council, committed to improving lives for the residents, communities and businesses of Somerset.

And that’s why we’re working so hard to build a sustainable organisation with a culture that rewards, values and recognises our staff, and gives everyone here the opportunity to grow and develop, personally and professionally.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now