Somerset Council
Social Worker - Learning Disabilities (Yeovil) (Adults)
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Social Worker – Learning Disabilities Team
Location: Yeovil Starting Salary: £37,280 (rising annually to £41,777), subject to 2026/27 pay award Hours: 37 per week, full-time Closing Date: 23 July 2026 Role Type: Ideal for experienced social workers seeking progression Annual Leave: 30 days
Transform Lives, Champion Rights & Foster Independence
Build your career while making a tangible difference. This role places your social work values, professional judgment, and relationship-centred practice at the core.
Join a team dedicated to supporting adults with learning disabilities in achieving meaningful, independent lives within their communities.
About the Role
The Social Worker will play a pivotal role in empowering individuals to maintain safety, choice, and control over their futures. You’ll collaborate with service users, carers, and inter-agency partners to create personalised care plans, conduct assessments, and navigate complex risk scenarios in line with the Care Act 2014.
This position offers:
- Meaningful long-term relationships and positive outcomes for clients.
- A supportive, collaborative environment that fosters professional growth.
- Opportunities to work alongside experienced team members (social workers, practitioners, health/voluntary sector partners).
Key Responsibilities
Your core areas of focus include:
- Conducting strengths-based assessments of individuals and carers to gauge needs and risks.
- Managing a diverse caseload, ensuring care and support plans remain proportionate, timely, and regularly reviewed.
- Engaging directly with individuals and families to aid informed decision-making.
- Building and sustaining partnerships with healthcare, housing, and voluntary sector organizations.
- Addressing safeguarding concerns, prioritizing protection while advocating for independence.
- Supporting people through crisis situations, applying legislative frameworks and resources as needed.
- Collaborating across agencies to deliver cohesive, person-centred care approaches.
- Maintaining clear, accurate records in compliance with policies and legal standards.
- Assessing and supporting carers, acknowledging their integral role within the care ecosystem.
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What We’re Looking For – Essential Criteria
Experience & Qualifications
You must demonstrate: ✔ A relevant Social Work qualification (e.g., BA Degree in Social Work, Postgraduate Masters in Social Work, or equivalent). ✔ Registration with Social Work England + active practice or eligibility. ✔ Significant experience or passion for working with adults with learning disabilities. ✔ Proficiency in risk management and professional decision-making.
Skill & Professional Attributes
✔ Strong communication skills, including working with individuals who have varied communication needs. ✔ Ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams while maintaining a social work perspective. ✔ A commitment to promoting independence, dignity, and inclusion. ✔ Fluency in English (closure of application process may be delayed if required).
Desirable Criteria
While not mandatory, the following will enhance your application:
✔ Supervisory experience. ✔ Hands-on experience working with health professionals. ✔ Prior exposure to substantive multi-agency partnerships. ✔ Reflective, resilient, and adaptable approach to addressing organisational change.
About the Team/Service
You’ll be part of a team with a clear, life-affirming mission: ⏣ Equipping individuals to live independently. ⏣ Strengthening connections and community integration. ⏣ Empowering choice and control over their lives.
The Learning Disabilities Team thrives on collaborations, progressing professional development, and ongoing learning. You’ll engage with local health services and partner agencies in Somerset, ensuring consistent, person-centred care.
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Additional Details
Sponsorship Opportunities
Applicants currently residing in the UK might qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, provided they meet Social Work England’s registration criteria.
**Note:** This sponsorship path is **not applicable for resettlement** and remains subject to recruitment progress.
Travel Considerations
Given Somerset’s rural geography, your role will require access to a personal vehicle for work-related travel across the county.
Contact
For informal pre-application discussions, contact Helen Readdy, Recruitment & Engagement Officer: helen.readdy@somerset.gov.uk
Important Note
Applications may be closed early if sufficient candidates are received. Act now to secure your position in this impactful role.
Person Specification
| Essential Knowledge | Desirable Traits |
|---|---|
| Social Work practice (as per Social Work England guidelines). | Empathy, self-awareness, cultural sensitivity. |
| In-depth awareness of legislation (*Care Act 2014, safeguarding, equality). | Ability to prioritise workloads and meet tight deadlines. |
| analysed multi-disciplinary care provision. | Resilient given emotionally challenging scenarios. |
| Broad understanding of government guidance & policies. | Willingness to embrace organisational change. |
| Direct experience with adult learning disabilities client groups. | Preferred: Career progression to senior/specialist levels. |
Apply today and help forge a brighter future for Somerset’s most vulnerable.
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