Adult Social Care Practitioner - Safeguarding (Adults)

Closing date: 31 August 2026

Transform lives, champion rights & support adults to achieve their full potential.

• Location: Taunton
• Starting salary £28,598 rising annually, currently up to £32,061
• Full time, 37 hours per week
• Ideal opportunity to join the pathway to become a fully qualified social worker
• 28 days annual leave entitlement

Role Purpose 

As an Adult Social Care Practitioner, you will support adults and carers through strengths-based, outcome-focused practice whilst helping to safeguard adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. Working under the supervision of a Social Work Manager, you will gather and analyse information, support safeguarding decision-making and contribute to ensuring people's voices, wishes and outcomes remain at the centre of all safeguarding activity.

Working within the Safeguarding Service Triage Team, you will engage with adults, carers, families and professionals to identify risks, promote wellbeing and ensure appropriate actions are taken to protect people from harm.

Key Responsibilities

• Gather and analyse information to support safeguarding decision-making.
• Make contact with people who are at risk of, or experiencing, abuse and neglect, as well as family members and professionals involved in their lives.
• Apply professional curiosity when reviewing information and assessing potential safeguarding concerns.
• Contribute to safeguarding enquiries and protection planning.
• Inform, advise and support adults and carers to access appropriate services and community-based support.
• Work collaboratively with Social Workers, health colleagues, partner agencies and voluntary organisations to achieve positive outcomes.
• Manage an agreed workload, prioritising activity according to risk and need.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation in line with safeguarding procedures and statutory requirements.
• Support service improvement activity and contribute to team learning and development.
• Promote the rights, dignity, independence and wellbeing of adults at all times.

What We’re Looking For – Essential Skills/Experience

We're looking for compassionate, resilient practitioners who are passionate about safeguarding adults and making a positive difference.

You will bring:

• Experience working in a caring or supportive role (paid or unpaid).
• An understanding of the rights of adults and carers and the ability to advocate on their behalf.
• Good communication skills and confidence engaging with a wide range of people.
• Ability to gather, analyse and interpret information effectively.
• A positive attitude towards learning and development.
• Ability to work independently using initiative and sound judgement.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to promoting human rights and delivering person-centred practice.

About the Team/Service

This role is based within our Safeguarding Service Triage Team, where you'll play a vital role in helping protect adults from abuse and neglect and ensuring their wishes and experiences are heard.

You will be working as part of a fast-paced, supportive and knowledgeable team focused on protecting people who are at risk of, or experiencing, abuse and neglect. The team places a strong emphasis on learning and development, with opportunities for progression including Social Work and Occupational Therapy apprenticeships.

To succeed in the team, you'll need strong communication skills, a can-do approach and a commitment to upholding people's human rights. This is a hybrid role, however the team works together from County Hall, Taunton every Tuesday, so applicants must be able to attend the office on that day.

Working within safeguarding offers a unique opportunity to develop your assessment, communication and analytical skills whilst making a real difference to some of Somerset's most vulnerable adults.

Additional Information

Unfortunately, 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. 

Due to the nature of the role and the geographical area of the service across Somerset, which is a largely rural county, with limitations around public transport the ability to be able to travel to any location is essential. Therefore, applicants must have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.

We recognise and welcome applications from disabled individuals who may require reasonable adjustments to meet this requirement, and we’re happy to discuss this from the first point of contact with the recruitment team.

For an informal chat abut the role, you can contact: Ranjana Sharma - Interim Strategic Manager for Safeguarding, Deprivation of LIberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) - 

ranjana.sharma@somerset.gov.uk

Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early if we have received a sufficient number of applications, so don’t delay, apply today!

(If you are an internal applicant, please apply via the internal careers site)

A full job description can be found here:  Adult Social Care Practitioner - Job Description - AG1045 

Person Specification

1276/FG