Social Worker

Advanced Practitioner Social Worker – Health Interface Service (Taunton)

Employer: Somerset Council
Location: Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY
Job Type: Full-time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Starting Salary: £41,771 per year
Current Salary Range: Up to £46,142 per year
Annual Leave: 30 days
Closing Date: 8 September 2026
Reference: 859/FG

Job Overview

Somerset Council is recruiting an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker – Health Interface Service (HIS) to join its Adult Social Care team in Taunton.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Adult Social Worker who is ready to progress into an advanced practice and professional leadership position.

The successful candidate will provide high-quality professional leadership within a fast-paced hospital environment, supporting adults with complex needs throughout admission, hospital stays and discharge.

The role focuses on strengths-based social work, Home First principles, admission avoidance and person-centred discharge planning, helping people return home safely wherever possible and maintain their independence.

Salary and Benefits

• Starting salary of £41,771 per year
• Salary currently rising annually to £46,142
• Full-time position
• 37 hours per week
• 30 days annual leave entitlement
• Opportunity to progress within advanced social work practice
• Professional leadership and development opportunities
• Work within an integrated health and social care environment
• Opportunity to make a direct difference to adults, families and carers

About the Role

As an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker within the Hospital Interface Service, you will take a leading role in delivering high-quality Adult Social Care practice within a hospital environment.

You will work with adults who may have complex physical, sensory, learning disability, dementia or other long-term support needs.

The role involves working closely with health professionals and community services to ensure people receive appropriate support and can leave hospital safely when they are ready.

You will also provide professional guidance to colleagues, support complex decision-making and contribute to improving practice and service quality.

Key Responsibilities

As an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker, your responsibilities will include:

• Providing professional leadership and advanced social work practice within the Hospital Interface Service.
• Holding oversight of complex cases and providing expert professional advice.
• Supporting joint working and decision-making on complex cases.
• Supporting safe and timely hospital discharge.
• Working to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Applying strengths-based and asset-focused approaches.
• Supporting effective safeguarding practice.
• Managing complex risks and supporting Mental Capacity Act decision-making.
• Providing reflective supervision and professional guidance to social workers.
• Working collaboratively with health colleagues across acute hospitals, intermediate care and community services.
• Contributing to service development and improvement.
• Monitoring practice and supporting quality assurance.
• Providing expert knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and professional standards.
• Applying the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding duties in professional practice.
• Promoting autonomy, independence and self-determination.
• Supporting colleagues to make evidence-informed decisions.
• Providing professional challenge and critical reflection in complex situations.
• Supporting positive risk-taking where appropriate.
• Helping develop new and improved ways of working.

About the Hospital Interface Service

The Hospital Interface Service (HIS) is an important part of Somerset’s integrated health and social care system.

The service operates within acute hospital settings and focuses on:

• Admission avoidance
• Safe hospital discharge
• Supporting people to return home
• Intermediate care pathways
• Promoting independence
• Safeguarding adults
• Strengths-based social work
• Working collaboratively with health and community services

The service follows a Home First and hopeful social work approach, encouraging practitioners to recognise people’s strengths, abilities and potential rather than focusing solely on their limitations.

Successful applicants will join a skilled and values-driven team working to make a tangible difference to adults and their communities.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Current and valid registration with Social Work England.
• Extensive post-qualifying experience within Adult Social Care.
• Experience of working with complex cases and managing professional risk.
• Strong knowledge of relevant social care legislation.
• Knowledge of hospital discharge and community support guidance.
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014.
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and associated guidance.
• Experience supporting or supervising practitioners.
• Experience promoting reflective and strengths-based practice.
• Strong communication and partnership-working skills.
• Confident leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Person Specification

The successful applicant should be able to demonstrate:

Professional Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of social work practice.
• Strong understanding of risk management.
• Experience working with adults of different ages and with complex needs.
• Knowledge of relevant legal and policy frameworks.
• Understanding of case law and its application to social work.
• Ability to seek and apply appropriate legal advice.
• Knowledge of human growth and development throughout the lifespan.
• Understanding of systemic approaches and the person-in-environment perspective.

Leadership and Management

• Experience supporting staff with complex casework.
• Ability to chair relevant meetings and establish robust action plans.
• Ability to provide professional guidance and supervision.
• Confident leadership and management skills.
• Ability to support colleagues through ethical dilemmas.
• Ability to promote professional development.
• Ability to encourage collaboration and positive team culture.

Risk and Decision-Making

• Ability to exercise professional judgement.
• Experience managing complex and unpredictable situations.
• Ability to undertake appropriate positive risk-taking.
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Ability to provide professional opinions supported by clear rationale.
• Ability to make evidence-informed decisions.

Professional Ethics

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Promote people’s rights to autonomy and self-determination.
• Apply professional ethics to decision-making.
• Use legal and human rights frameworks appropriately.
• Reflect critically on personal values and their influence on professional practice.
• Recognise professional limitations and knowledge gaps.
• Participate actively in supervision and professional development.
• Promote a culture of learning and constructive feedback.

Service Development

You should also demonstrate:

• Awareness of changing local, national and organisational contexts.
• Understanding of the implications of change for social work practice.
• Ability to contribute to change management.
• Understanding of system thinking and demand reduction.
• Awareness of budgetary considerations and their relationship with service demand.
• Ability to develop new ways of working that benefit service users, families and carers.

Professional Development

The role requires a strong commitment to continuous professional development.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of CPD and should hold, or be working towards, the relevant Post Qualifying Professional Standard.

You will also be expected to contribute to a learning culture where practitioners are encouraged to reflect, give and receive constructive feedback, and learn from both successful practice and mistakes.

Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship

Somerset Council states that it may consider offering Skilled Worker visa sponsorship to suitably qualified overseas social workers who are already residing in the UK.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Be registered with Social Work England.
• Be currently living in the UK.
• Meet the relevant recruitment and sponsorship requirements.

Important: Sponsorship is not guaranteed and will be assessed as part of the recruitment process.

The employer states that it cannot provide resettlement support, and the sponsorship opportunity is only available to candidates who are already residing in the UK.

Driving Requirement

Due to the geographical nature of the service, applicants must be able to travel to different locations across Somerset.

Somerset is a largely rural county and public transport can be limited in some areas.

Therefore, applicants are required to have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.

Reasonable adjustments can be discussed with the recruitment team for disabled applicants who may require support in meeting this requirement.

Who Should Apply?

This vacancy is particularly suitable for:

• Experienced Adult Social Workers.
• Social Workers with hospital-based experience.
• Social Workers looking to progress into advanced practice.
• Practitioners with strong safeguarding and risk-management experience.
• Social Workers experienced in complex casework.
• Practitioners with leadership or supervision experience.
• Qualified Social Workers registered with Social Work England.
• Eligible UK-based overseas Social Workers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship.

Working Environment

This position provides an opportunity to work at the intersection of health and social care, collaborating with professionals across hospitals, intermediate care and community services.

You will be expected to work confidently in a fast-moving environment while maintaining high professional standards and keeping the needs, rights and aspirations of adults at the centre of decision-making.

Equality and Reasonable Adjustments

Somerset Council welcomes applications from disabled individuals.

If reasonable adjustments are required to enable you to meet the requirements of the role, these can be discussed with the recruitment team from the first point of contact.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official Somerset Council careers portal.

Closing date: 8 September 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply early because Somerset Council states that it reserves the right to close the advert before the advertised closing date if sufficient applications are received.

Apply for the Advanced Practitioner Social Worker Role

Apply through the official Somerset Council recruitment page and review the full job description before submitting your application.

Official vacancy:
https://careers.somerset.gov.uk/job/Taunton-Advanced-Practitioner-Social-Worker-Health-Interface-Service-%28Taunton%29-%28Adults%29-TA1-4DY/1359905955/

Informal Enquiries

For an informal discussion about the vacancy, applicants can contact:

Helen Readdy
Recruitment and Engagement Officer – Adults
Email: helen.readdy@somerset.gov.uk

Key Job Details at a Glance

Important Application Reminder

Before applying, candidates should carefully check the person specification and ensure they can demonstrate the required qualifications, Social Work England registration, professional experience, leadership capability and knowledge of Adult Social Care legislation.

For applicants seeking Skilled Worker sponsorship, pay particular attention to the employer’s requirement that candidates must already be residing in the UK.