Adoption Support Social Worker

Job summary

Salary: Grade K £39,862 - £41,771 per annum, plus 8% market supplement (subject to review)

Hours: Part time / 18.5 hours per week

Contract: Up to 12 months

Closing date: 3rd September 2026 at 5pm

Interview date: 17th September 2026

Location: Flexible. An office base in one of the offices within the Adoption West region (Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge) and working from home

Main duties of the job

• Providing advice and support to adoptive families
• Assessing the support needs of adoptive families
• Working with children and families with complex needs
• Providing therapeutic support to families either directly or via ASF applications

About us

Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency and registered Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Councils. Adoption West provides a range of adoption services including:

• The recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters
• Family finding services for children requiring permanency via adoption
• Post adoption support services
• Services to birth family and adopted adults

This is an exciting time to join Adoption West as we build on the solid foundations already in place and our Good rating from Ofsted. As part of an internal restructure, our functions going forward will be service led across the region, rather than office/hub based.

Adoption West

• is an organisation with a wealth of experience and has a learning culture committed to enabling the post holder to grow and develop in their role.
• provides support through supervision and training.
• offers flexible working arrangements, including job shares
• provides a Local Government Pension Scheme and access to the Child Care vouchers scheme.

Job responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Assessment of adopters and the matching and placements of children for adoption

• Undertaking assessments of prospective adopters and presenting assessments to the Adoption Panel
• Provide support to prospective adopters during and after approval, including through the LAC reviewing process.
• Contributing to the development and training of adopters.

Assessment of adoption support needs giving due consideration to the wishes and opinions of the child and the adoptive family, the nature of the problem that has called for adoption support

• To draw up support plan and implement, with the child and adoptive family, an appropriate action plan to come to terms with or ameliorate the identified problems.
• To convene and chair case specific and other liaison/multiagency meetings as appropriate.
• All children in need procedures are completed in a timely manner.
• Applications sourced and made to the Adoption Support Fund

Providing an efficient homefinding service that meets the needs of children needing adoptive placements within prescribed timescales

• To provide consultation to Social workers who are placing children for adoption
• To work jointly with social workers to assess appropriate matches for children needing adoptive placements.

To support and promote the development of a dedicated adoption team identity and shared objectives within a changing and developing environment which include

• To contribute to the timeliness of the Prospective Adopter Reports (PARs), Adoption Support Assessments and Non Agency Adoptions
• The team continues to provide and develop the adoption support core offer as outlined in the adoption passport
• Looked after children and adoption regulations requirements are completed within timescales.
• Provision of birth records counseling and supporting adopted adults to access birth records.
• Participate in the teams duty rota
• Model and provide good equalities practice. Value diversity within the team and in contact with other professionals, children, young people and families.
• Operate within the County policy and regularly updates him/herself with social work methods, new legislation and procedures, including Childrens Act 2004 and Every Child Matters.
• To secure the effective involvement of parents/carers, children and young people in the development and evaluation of services.
• Through liaison with other professionals build positive working relationships to ensure effective joint working practices.
• Acquire and maintain local knowledge including links with and information of statutory and voluntary groups in order to maximise co-ordination and joint working to improve outcomes for children.
• To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.
• To assist the Manager and ATM in the robust management of resources within the team by ensuring quality and value for money in service delivery.

Specific requirements for this post

• Able to travel throughout the Adoption West area
• Able to work outside normal working hours on a planned basis and at short notice.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Have up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the protection of, children and young people.
• Thorough understanding of the needs of children in care.
• Knowledge of Adoption Regulations (England) 2011, Adoption National Minimum Standards and associated guidance.
• Up to date knowledge of key child care legislation, policies and practices central to the implementation of a professional social work service on behalf of the council.
• Knowledge of Every Child Matters, the five outcomes and shared processes.
• Knowledge and ability to put into practice a range of theories, models and interventions and to assess impact for the service user.
• Knowledge of assessment processes including the contribution provided by other agencies, timescales and their impact on council and Government performance targets and indicators.
• Post qualifying experience of direct work with children, young people and families.
• Experience of working with children in care, their families and foster carers.
• Experience of completing assessments, reports and plans for children identified as vulnerable and in need.
• Proven record of challenging poor performance and evidence of improving performance.
• Ability to give objective timely advice.
• Knowledge and evidence of assessment skills, including engaging with users of services, other professionals and agencies to achieve a holistic assessment.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Proven organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work, manage own time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Ability to keep accurate electronic records.
• Ability to contribute positively to the social work team and department.
• Takes responsibility for own professional development and commitment to evidenced based practice.
• Good IT skills
• Ability to manage competing demands of a caseload.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written with colleagues, outside agencies and service users.
• Ability to identify problems with some complexity and to demonstrate creative approach to such problems.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships within and outside the department.
• Ability to produce reports to required standard on time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of assessment of Adopters or providing adoption support services.
• Experience of supervision.
• Experience of staff/students supervision or consultation.
• Supervision skills.
• Experience of delivering training

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Social Work qualification
• Social Work England registered

Desirable

• A post qualifying award in Social Work.
• A Practice Teachers Award

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Wiltshire Council is an equal opportunities employer.

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