Welcome from Suzanne Westhead, the Director of Adult Social Care

Thank you for your interest in joining the Adult Social Care team at Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath & North East Somerset is a wonderful and diverse place. From the beautiful World Heritage City of Bath to our market towns of Keynsham, Radstock and Midsomer Norton and our rural communities that are nestled in the beautiful countryside of the Chew Valley, the foothills of the Mendips and the Cotswolds.

The Council is at the heart of tackling some of the biggest issues facing our society such as the climate and ecological emergency, responding to Covid-19 and supporting people and communities to lead healthy, prosperous and independent lives. We have a unique integrated structure across social care and health that enables us to provide a holistic whole system approach to supporting people and delivering better outcomes.

We are seeking an Assistant Director who will be responsible for our internal service of three care homes and five extra care housing schemes, as well as mental health services, safeguarding, and quality assurance. This is a critical leadership post, with responsibility for a substantial team of around 260 staff, and you will focus on improving practice, quality of care, and managing and developing your team. You will be a qualified social worker and experienced adult social services leader, with a strong operational background and a track record driving improved performance within an adult social care context. You will be a confident and supportive leader who is committed to building and developing a team. Most of all, you will be committed to improving outcomes, promoting independence, and developing a sustainable system.

We are seeking a Lead Commissioner who will be responsible for the commissioning of integrated care and support services for people with a learning disability, autism, physical and sensory Impairment and mental health need including residential care; supported living; home care and day opportunities. You will be an experienced commissioner with a background in one or more of local government, housing, or health, and ideally some track record working across all three. You will also be a resilient and inspiring leader, who can inspire confidence in the team and promote its further development. Most of all, you will be committed to improving outcomes, promoting independence, and developing a sustainable system.

On this site you will find full details of both posts, alongside background information about the council and the area. Should you need any further information, you can speak to our advising consultants at GatenbySanderson - Sundas Gull (07545318869) or Seb Lowe (07464543442).

 We look forward to hearing from you.

Suzanne Westhead
Director of Adult Social Care