Team Leader Leaving Care Accommodation

Closing date: 01/07/2026

Salary: Grade 9, £41,771 to £46,142 per annum.

Location: Taunton

Role summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent and full time Team Leader position for Somerset’s Leaving Care Accommodation Team, within Children’s Social Care, based in Taunton.

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. In practice this will mean leading a small, friendly and dedicated team of Leaving Care Workers who are committed and passionate about the support they provide to care experienced young people, managing high quality homes for Care Leavers aged 18-21, and managing and overseeing our Stepping Stones service, including recruitment and retention.

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.
• Manage high quality homes for Care Leavers aged 18-21, and ensure that they are well-supported, receive a professional and consistent service, that their welfare is safeguarded, their needs are met, that purposeful interventions are planned and delivered, and outcomes well-evidenced.
• Oversee day to day running of the homes and ensure the homes are safe and compliant.
• Consider how to make best use of our own resources to meet the needs of young people who may find it difficult to live in other accommodations.
• Recruit, induct, supervise and develop staff, managing performance, welfare and capability in line with council policies.
• 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

Essential

• 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.

Desirable

• 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  

• Permanent for 37 Hours a week.
• Work contractual hours Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm (4.30pm on a Friday), however you will be managing and leading a team which works across 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm on a rolling rota, covering evenings and weekends including bank holidays, so at times flexible working may be needed.
• 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, 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.
• 30 day’s 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 Manager Annabelle Sargeant on 01278 447736/ annabelle.sargeant@somerset.gov.uk.

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.

1027/SR