We’re a children’s support and safeguarding service. We aspire to provide a first-class service to children, young people and families across North Somerset.
We know that family support and social work can be emotionally demanding. It requires us to be committed to ever-changing and often complex needs of our children, young people and their families. That’s why we have small teams with approachable managers who sit alongside their colleagues. Our managers are actively encouraged to offer support and guidance to their teams, not just in regular supervision sessions but whenever is needed, such as following a difficult phone call or home visit.
Our social workers support around 15 children and young people at any time. We’re aware that our caseloads are relatively low compared to other local authorities and we strive to keep it that way! We believe in giving you the opportunity to build relationships. We want our people to work in a strengths-based and relationship-led way to support families to make identified changes and enable them to meet the needs of their children. The work we do is varied and we support children in need, those who need protection, children who need to come into our care and through to adoption. Our approach enables you to develop your skills in a variety of different areas.
We’re committed to developing our people. Annual appraisals, reviewed in line with progress, help our people to identify career progression plans and practical steps that people can make to help them to grow.
We invest in our people. We want to make sure every person in our team has the right skills and experiences to provide a first-class service. Opportunities, including acting-up, are encouraged to enable people to gain valuable experience in different areas and to assist with professional development.
Our Practice Framework provides an evidence-based structure where we work in an environment of shared values and principles, knowledge, learning and good practice. The framework echoes our strengths and relationship-based approach to working with children, young people and their families. It also provides a helpful common language and enables our practitioners to further explore the theories and approaches that shape the way we work.
Our team has a real sense of ownership with our Practice Framework as it was co-produced with them. We’re on an exciting journey, and we’re keen for our Practice Framework to develop and evolve over time. It also sets expectations for how we work with children, young people and their families, providing an anchor, guiding us and challenging us as we continue to grow.
Pictured top left: Senior Leadership team
Pictured middle left: Our Fostering team at an event in Clevedon
Pictured bottom left: Members of our Front Door and Family Wellbeing team
