Team Leader - Leaving Care in Shepton Mallet

As a Team Leader you will supervise and develop a team delivering high‑quality statutory support to care leavers, ensuring Somerset Council fulfils its responsibilities as a Corporate Parent. You will provide professional leadership on complex casework, overseeing assessments and plans to ensure timely, consistent and outcome‑focused support that safeguards welfare, promotes independence and enables young people to thrive into adulthood.

Working directly with young people in challenging circumstances, you will offer expert guidance, crisis management and advocacy, while driving effective multi‑agency working, service development, quality assurance and performance management, and championing the voice of care leavers to shape both individual plans and wider service improvement.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities

• Lead and manage a Leaving Care team to deliver high‑quality, consistent and outcome‑focused support for care leavers, ensuring safeguarding, effective planning and strong evidence of impact.
• Provide professional oversight of assessments, plans and reports, ensuring high standards, clear analysis and young people’s voices are reflected.
• Recruit, induct, supervise and develop staff, managing performance, welfare and capability in line with council policies.
• Take lead responsibility for complex and high‑risk cases, using expert judgment to respond to crisis situations including homelessness, financial hardship and safeguarding concerns.
• Act as a senior practitioner and Corporate Parent, working directly with care leavers and their families to promote independence, positive relationships and successful transitions into adulthood.
• Ensure care leavers can access and engage with support around accommodation, health and wellbeing, education, training, employment, finances and family life.
• Champion the voice of young people, ensuring they are active participants in planning, review and service development.
• Lead effective multi‑agency working, chairing meetings, challenging partners where needed and advocating for the best outcomes for care leavers.
• Manage resources, accommodation provision and budgets responsibly, ensuring best value, compliance and safe environments.
• Handle complaints, resolve complex operational issues and escalate significant risks or concerns appropriately.
• Contribute to service development, quality assurance, policy, training and county‑wide improvement in leaving care services.

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills

• Ability to demonstrate competence against occupational standards equivalent to NVQ3 in Care.
• In-depth knowledge of the needs of looked after children and care leavers.
• Knowledge and understanding of childcare, assessment and planning for young people.
• Working knowledge of the Children Act / Children and Young People’s Act, Leaving Care Act, and Child Protection legislation, practice and procedures.
• Knowledge of accommodation legislation, statutory requirements, and relevant Council and departmental policies.
• Proven experience of working with young people in a social care setting.
• Experience of working cooperatively with colleagues and other professionals.
• Experience and commitment to working effectively within a team.
• Ability to communicate service-related issues clearly and appropriately, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to think strategically, analyse situations and solve problems proactively.
• Relevant IT skills to support effective day-to-day working.
• Holds or prepared to work towards a Management Qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 4.
• Specific experience of working with care leavers, particularly in relation to accommodation.
• Experience of supervising, appraising and managing staff.
• Skills in recruitment, selection, team leadership and staff review.
• Ability to manage, supervise, motivate and develop staff within an equality and diversity framework.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the work of individuals and teams.

Additional Information

• Fixed term for one year with the possibility of an extension. 37 Hours a week.
• We are happy to consider flexible working patterns – we work hard to sustain a good work-life balance and are passionate about maintaining a positive and supportive working culture.
• Whilst this role can involve some working from home, you will need to live within travelling distance of the homes based in Taunton and Shepton Mallet, to spend time working alongside the teams, and overseeing the homes, on a regular basis.
• You will need to have access to a vehicle and a full driving licence.
• You would join a small, friendly and experienced team providing support to care experienced young people in supported accommodation.
• 30 days annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.

For more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact Operations Managers Samantha Heathcote on samantha.heathcote@somerset.gov.uk or Annabelle Sargeant on 01278 447736 / annabelle.sargeant@somerset.gov.uk. A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.