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Social Worker – Mental Health Team (Taunton) (Adults)

Somerset Council is looking for a qualified Social Worker to join its Mental Health Social Care Service in Taunton. This is a full-time position with a 37-hour working week and a salary starting at £38,510, rising annually to a current maximum of £43,149.

You’ll work with adults, families and carers to assess needs, manage risk, protect people from significant harm and help individuals live as independently as possible. The role combines direct social work, statutory assessments, crisis support, partnership working and ongoing case management.

The council is also open to applications from newly qualified social workers. For overseas professionals, Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be considered, but there’s an important restriction: applicants must already be living in the UK and must hold a recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration.

About the Role

This position sits within Somerset Council’s Mental Health Social Care Service, which supports adults across the county. You’ll work alongside social workers, adult social care practitioners and advanced practitioners to help people with mental health needs access appropriate care and support.

Your caseload can include situations with different levels of complexity. You’ll assess what each person needs, consider risks, review existing support and agree practical solutions with the individual and other professionals involved.

The work can move quickly, particularly when someone is experiencing a crisis. You’ll need to stay calm, use professional judgement and understand the relevant social care legislation. At the same time, the council takes a strengths-based approach, encouraging people to build confidence, maintain independence and make use of the support available to them.

The service includes both inpatient and community mental health work. The inpatient team supports people across NHS psychiatric hospitals in Somerset, while community teams work with residents in their local areas.

Primary Responsibilities

As a Social Worker, you’ll take responsibility for a varied caseload and make sure assessments and reviews reflect each person’s circumstances. Your work will include:

• Assessing adult social care needs, risks and levels of support.
• Managing cases of varying complexity and responding to referrals from different sources.
• Working directly with service users, families, carers and other professionals.
• Completing statutory assessments and reviews in line with relevant legislation.
• Preparing accurate assessments, reports, statements and case records.
• Supporting people experiencing mental health crises or situations involving significant risk.
• Promoting independence and helping people achieve positive personal outcomes.
• Working with health services, housing teams, police, voluntary organisations and other agencies.
• Taking part in meetings and wider multi-agency working.
• Contributing to service improvement, professional learning, training and research.

You’ll also need to communicate clearly and sensitively, particularly when working with people who may be reluctant to accept support or who are experiencing difficult circumstances.

Qualifications

You’ll need a recognised Social Work qualification, such as a BA in Social Work, a master’s degree in social work or an equivalent qualification. Registration with Social Work England is also required.

The council is willing to consider newly qualified social workers, so you don’t necessarily need many years of professional experience. However, you should understand social care practice, relevant legislation and the needs of adults receiving mental health-related support.

Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment is valuable. The council is particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate partnership working with social care, health services, voluntary organisations or education providers.

Licences & Requirements

There are several practical requirements to keep in mind before applying. You should have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Knowledge of adult social care practice and relevant legislation.
• Strong assessment, report-writing and case-management skills.
• The ability to manage competing deadlines and organise your workload.
• Resilience when dealing with difficult or high-pressure situations.
• Empathy, sensitivity, self-awareness and good communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively with other agencies and professionals.
• Fluent English communication skills.
• Full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.

The vehicle requirement is particularly important because the role covers a largely rural county where public transport options can be limited. Reasonable adjustments can be discussed with the recruitment team where appropriate.

Job Snapshot

Job Title	Social Worker – Mental Health Team (Taunton) (Adults)
Employer	Somerset Council
Location	Taunton, Somerset, England
Department	Adult Social Care
Service	Mental Health Social Care
Salary	£38,510–£43,149 per year
Hours	37 hours per week
Contract	Full-time
Annual Leave	30 days
Registration	Social Work England
Visa Sponsorship	May be considered for eligible UK-based overseas applicants
Closing Date	21 October 2026

What’s on Offer

The starting salary is £38,510 per year, with the current salary range reaching £43,149. The role is full-time at 37 hours per week and comes with 30 days of annual leave.

You’ll also join a service that places emphasis on professional development. The Mental Health Social Care Service has a dedicated Practice Development Advanced Practitioner who supports learning, training and improvements in Adult Social Care practice.

The working environment is described as fast-paced but supportive, with social workers, adult social care practitioners and advanced practitioners working together across the service.

For eligible overseas professionals already living in the UK, Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be considered as part of the recruitment process. This can be valuable for qualified social workers who already have the right professional registration but need employer sponsorship to continue working in the UK.

Visa Sponsorship & Relocation

This vacancy has an important sponsorship condition. Somerset Council says it may consider Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for suitably qualified overseas social workers who are already residing in the UK.

To qualify for consideration, you must have a recognised social work qualification and registration with Social Work England. Sponsorship is not automatic and will be assessed during recruitment.

The council also states that it cannot provide resettlement support. That means this vacancy should not be treated as an overseas relocation opportunity for applicants currently outside the UK.

If you’re applying from Nigeria or another country outside the UK, check this requirement carefully before submitting an application. The sponsorship wording specifically limits this opportunity to candidates currently living in the UK.

Who This Job Suits

This role could suit a qualified adult Social Worker who enjoys direct work with people and wants to build experience within mental health social care. It can also suit a newly qualified practitioner who meets the registration and qualification requirements.

You’ll be a stronger candidate if your CV clearly shows experience with assessments, care planning, risk management, statutory reviews, multidisciplinary working and adult social care legislation.

If you’re seeking sponsorship, make your UK immigration position clear. Candidates already living in the UK should also highlight their Social Work England registration and recognised qualification prominently rather than leaving recruiters to search for these details.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through Somerset Council’s careers portal. The application link below takes you to the council’s recruitment system, where you can search for the Social Worker – Mental Health Team (Taunton) (Adults) vacancy and complete your application.

Before applying, update your CV to show your Social Work qualification, Social Work England registration, adult social care experience, mental health experience where applicable, assessment skills and partnership work.

If you need clarification about the role, the listed recruitment contact is Helen Readdy, Recruitment and Engagement Officer – Adults. You can contact her at helen.readdy@somerset.gov.uk for an informal discussion.

Application deadline: 21 October 2026. The employer may close the advert early if enough applications are received, so applying early is advisable.

When the application portal opens, search for the exact vacancy title: Social Worker – Mental Health Team (Taunton) (Adults).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Social Worker role pay?
The salary is £38,510–£43,149 per year, depending on the applicable point within the salary range.

How many hours will I work?
This is a full-time role with 37 hours per week.

How much annual leave is included?
The vacancy lists 30 days of annual leave.

Does Somerset Council offer visa sponsorship?
Skilled Worker sponsorship may be considered for suitably qualified overseas social workers who are already living in the UK. You must have a recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration.

Can I apply from outside the UK?
The vacancy specifically says sponsorship is only available to candidates currently living in the UK and that resettlement support is not available. Applicants outside the UK should therefore not assume they are eligible.

Do newly qualified Social Workers qualify?
Yes. The employer states that applications from newly qualified social workers will also be considered, provided the required qualification and registration requirements are met.

Is access to a vehicle required?
Yes. Because the service covers a largely rural area of Somerset with limited public transport, applicants must have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.

Who can I contact about the vacancy?
Helen Readdy, Recruitment and Engagement Officer – Adults, is listed as the informal contact. Her email address is helen.readdy@somerset.gov.uk.