At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support young people in developing life skills and achieving independence.
- Company: Gloucestershire County Council, dedicated to supporting young people and care leavers.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible shifts and a supportive environment focused on personal growth.
- Why this job: Empower young people to thrive while gaining valuable leadership experience.
- Qualifications: Experience with young people and a Level 3 qualification in a relevant field.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Job Location: Stroud (Gloucestershire County Council). This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
About the Role
As a Senior Support Worker, you will play a leadership role in delivering high-quality, trauma-informed support to young people and care leavers, promoting their safety, wellbeing and independence. You will:
- lead shifts, ensuring effective staff deployment and high standards of care and support
- build positive, professional relationships that promote trust, boundaries and accountability
- support young people to develop essential life skills, including budgeting, cooking, self-care, education and employment
- assess and manage risk, responding to safeguarding concerns and escalating where required
- support young people through challenges using de-escalation and solution-focused approaches
- contribute to support planning, helping young people achieve their goals and aspirations
- maintain accurate records in line with organisational and GDPR requirements
- promote a safe, well-maintained environment, overseeing health and safety and property standards
- work collaboratively with social workers, personal advisors and partner agencies
- supervise, mentor and support Support Workers, modelling best practice
- deputise for the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager when required
- contribute to quality assurance, audits and continuous improvement of the service
You will be expected to uphold safeguarding responsibilities at all times and contribute to a positive, consistent and child-centred culture.
About the Service
Supported Accommodation provision for young people and care leavers aged 16–25 with 19 self-contained studio flats, promoting independence within a supportive environment focused on developing practical life skills, emotional resilience and positive futures.
About You
We are looking for someone who:
- has experience working with young people and/or care leavers
- has experience leading shifts or supporting staff
- understands safeguarding, risk management and trauma-informed practice
- can remain calm under pressure and make sound decisions
- is passionate about supporting independence and positive outcomes
Essential Requirements
- Level 3 qualification in a relevant field (e.g. Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care)
- experience supporting young people (ideally aged 16–18) in supported accommodation, residential care, youth services, housing or similar settings
- experience leading shifts, coordinating staff or supporting team decision-making
- experience working with young people with complex needs, including emotional dysregulation and risk-taking behaviour
- knowledge of risk assessment, risk management and identifying safeguarding concerns
- experience of multi-agency working with professionals such as social care, health and education services
- strong record-keeping skills and experience using electronic case-management systems
Working Pattern
This role operates on a weekly rotating shift pattern (Monday to Sunday):
- Week 1 – Morning shifts: 6:30am – 3:30pm
- Week 2 – Afternoon shifts: 3:00pm – 11:30pm
- Week 3 – Waking night shift: 11:00pm – 7:00am
Flexibility is essential, including weekends and bank holidays.
Important Information – Service Development
This Supported Accommodation service is currently progressing through its registration process and is not yet fully operational. As part of your induction, training and preparation, you will work within existing children’s homes across the Children’s Residential Service. This will provide valuable experience, strengthen your practice, and help you integrate into the wider service, ensuring you are fully prepared once Southfields becomes operational.
In accordance with Schedule 9, Part 1, of the Equality Act 2010, this role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement for the postholder to be aged 21 years or above. This is an essential and proportionate requirement to ensure the effective and appropriate delivery of the service due to the nature of the duties of the role and the ages and complex needs of the children and young people in our care.
Interview Schedule
Interviews for this post will be held on Wednesday 29th July and Wednesday 5th August.
Application Notice
We reserve the right to close an advertisement earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a suitable number of applications.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Support Worker - Supported Accommodation in Stroud
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Gloucestershire County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Gloucestershire County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Gloucestershire County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Gloucestershire County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Support Worker - Supported Accommodation in Stroud
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Gloucestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Gloucestershire County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gloucestershire County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
