North Somerset Children’s Services

North Somerset Council is ambitious. Are you dynamic? Looking to make a difference? Do you have a background in social work? If you answered yes to those questions, our children’s services team is ready to welcome you.

Our roles

We’re looking for a variety of practitioners…

View our roles
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Welcome to North Somerset

Here in North Somerset we strongly believe in getting it right for our children, young people and families – working with them to achieve the best possible life outcomes. We are a small and friendly organisation, really committed to supporting each other and with strong political and corporate support for children’s services.

We welcome creativity and diversity in our people and by joining us you will have the opportunity to bring your unique skills to a team that is wating to offer a warm welcome. We are ambitious in our drive to help all children in North Somerset to thrive and have a wide range of roles across our teams, including new roles following additional investment.

Best wishes, Claire Shiels (she/her) Director of Children’s Services North Somerset Council

Pictured left: Claire Shiels, Director of Children’s Services

The council

Our vision

Our council vision is ‘an open, fairer, greener North Somerset’ and we have three key priorities:

  • A thriving and sustainable place
  • A council which empowers and cares about people
  • An open and enabling organisation.

Our values

Our organisational values are important. They help guide us in how we work and provide services for our residents. Our people produced our values in collaboration with elected members. They provide a strong ethos and help us to deliver our ambitious agenda, working in partnership across the council and beyond:

  • We act with integrity
  • We respect each other
  • We innovate
  • We care
  • We collaborate.

Pictured top right: members of our Children with Disabilities team
Pictured bottom right: members of our Ashcombe Nursery team

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Who we are

In North Somerset we are striving for excellence, our children and families are central to everything we do and we believe they deserve the best. The aim of our work with children and families is to provide the right support, at the right time to ensure that all North Somerset children are safe, thriving and achieving their full potential.

Our core values are that work with children and families is relationship based, trauma informed and strengths based and we take the same approach to how we work together and support our teams.

We are a friendly and welcoming local authority where you can make a real impact. Our Senior leaders are connected to practice and listen to our workforce, children and families to help shape plans and ensure that we’re getting things right. We have invested in our services so we can offer the right conditions for success including manageable workloads and good management oversight and support.

We know how important professional development is and invest in our people, building on our current workforce development offer to deliver an ambitious framework with an exciting range of training and development opportunities to help you progress through every stage of your career.

Our Practice Approach and Delivery Plan for 2024-2026 have been developed collaboratively and set the conditions for practice and children to thrive in North Somerset. Along with clear practice standards and tools to help you achieve the best outcomes for our children and families.

We’re on an exciting journey and would love you to be part of it.

Pictured left: Our Fostering team at an event in Clevedon

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The area

Find out more about the area

Click on one of the tiles below to find out more about living in North Somerset

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Transport

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Environment

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Education

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Entertainment

Transport

Known as the gateway to the South West, North Somerset benefits from fantastic transport links providing its residents with easy access to a strong road, rail and air travel network. The M5 motorway dissects the length of North Somerset.

  • Bristol is less than 30 minutes away by train.
  • Bath is less than an hour away by train.
  • Cardiff is a little over one hour away by train.
  • London is a little over two hours away by train.
  • Or anywhere on the South West Costal Path in a few hours.

To help you get around in a greener way, you can buy a brand new fully electric vehicle through our employee benefit scheme.

If you’re traveling more locally, we actively encourage sustainable travel and we’re investing heavily in our public transport and cycle lane networks.

Pictured below: The Strawberry Line cycle route (Clevedon to Shepton Mallet)

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Environment

With so much rural landscape and coastline to protect, we’re fully on board with our commitment to the Climate Emergency and have committed to become carbon-neutral by 2030.

We’re the best performing authority in the South West for our recycling rates and are working to deliver plans to change the way residents think about waste and its impact on the environment.

Pictured below: Portishead Marina

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Education

With over 60 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, three special schools and four independent schools to choose from, there’s a school to suit every child.

We have plenty of opportunities for further and higher education right here in North Somerset through Weston College, rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Pictured below: Winford C of E Primary School

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Entertainment

There really is something for everyone here in North Somerset. Having been awarded Heritage Action Zone status by Historic England, in Weston-super-Mare you will be able to discover impressive buildings, explore the cultural heritage of the town and enjoy beautiful walks steeped in history.

From short countryside strolls to running a half marathon, there’s plenty for those looking to get outdoors and explore our stretches of sandy coastline and spectacular countryside, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing way to spend your time, we have a wide selection of independent shops, eateries and entertainment venues including cinemas, ten pin bowling and arts venues in all our towns.

Pictured below: The International Balloon Fiesta, Ashton Court

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Why Move Here

Housing

North Somerset

Bristol

Bath & North East Somerset

Average price for 2 bed property

North Somerset

£296,281

Bristol

£336,547

Bath & North East Somerset

£432,262

Average price for 4 bed property

North Somerset

£561,724

Bristol

£606,286

Bath & North East Somerset

£930,711

Average rent for a 2-bed property

North Somerset

£1,071pcm

Bristol

£1,603pcm

Bath & North East Somerset

£2,117pcm

Average price for a 4-bed property

North Somerset

£1,677pcm

Bristol

£2,230pcm

Bath & North East Somerset

£3,861pcm



*source: www.home.co.uk

Housing options range from detached mansions in Abbots Leigh to terraced Victorian and Edwardian town houses in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon, with smart new waterside apartments in Portishead. North Somerset has a diverse range of historic villages, and vibrant market and coastal towns that offer something for everyone.

Our offer

We understand working in children’s social care is more than just a job. We want to make sure our team is passionate about what we do and that our people enjoy living and working in North Somerset. Whether that means you want training and development opportunities or a flexible working arrangement to fit around family commitments, we will work with you to make sure you get the most from working here.

We offer a comprehensive training programme. This is complemented by a bespoke programme of training for our newly qualified social workers throughout their assisted and supported year in employment (ASYE). We also have a core curriculum with a varied programme to inspire and stretch every one of our social workers.

Our pay is competitive, and we reward your hard work. The following salaries are per annum for 2023 to 2024, based on 37 hours per week (pro rata if part time):

Social Worker - up to £39,186
Senior Social Worker – up to £45,441
Team Manager – up to £58,238
Heads of Service – up to £67,912

You can find out more on our What we offer social workers page.

  • Generous annual leave – up to 34 days plus bank holidays

  • Option to purchase additional two weeks annual leave

  • Excellent Local government pension scheme to secure your future

  • Family-friendly policies and flexible working options, including a flexi-time scheme

  • Tax free sustainable travel schemes, including electric vehicles and cycle to work

  • Relocation allowance – up to £8k to help with relocation and removal expenses

  • Discounts on shopping, days out, travel and gym memberships

  • 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme