Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Adoption Social Worker to join our Social Work service. CCS Adoption is a Voluntary Adoption Agency and registered charity. We have been continuously rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for 14 years across five inspections, most recently in February 2024. We find permanent, loving homes for children who are waiting to be adopted. We also offer a wide range of adoption support services for adoptive families in the region. We are committed to maintaining this high level of performance and further developing the innovative services we provide for children and adoptive families.
Responsibilities
The post-holder will be a qualified Social Worker, preferably with adoption experience, who will undertake adoption assessments and support placements, as well as contribute to all aspects of the adoption service. This will include recruitment activities, family finding, post-adoption support and training.
- To recruit, prepare and undertake robust and analytical adoption assessments. These tasks will include attendance at Introduction days & drop in events, Stage 1 and 2 assessments and providing some aspect of training to prospective adopters.
- To facilitate the linking and matching of children with adoptive families both regionally and nationally. The children will primarily be in the care of Local Authorities and subject to childcare plans promoting permanency through substitute family care. The work in matching will therefore require skills in negotiating and planning inter-agency agreements and adoption support assessments and work collaboratively with the Local Authorities and the RAA’s.
- Being responsible for Adoption Support Cases, completing assessments of need, providing professional advice and signposting.
- Co/Facilitating groups, training and workshops through CCS Adoption, as necessary.
- Presentation of Adoption Agency Report (AAR) to Adoption Panel.
- Complete other assessments as required, such as stepparent assessments, intercountry adoption assessments and connected persons/SGO assessments.
- As a senior adoption social worker manager, a complex caseload of families, whilst actively providing support and advice to less experienced members of the team.
- As a senior adoption social worker being responsible for Social Worker Students on a rota basis with other senior adoption social workers within the team.
- Participate in planning meetings and assist in defining clear goals and plans for children in line with adoption legislation.
- To keep accurate written records of case work and maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Have and continually develop own understanding, skills and knowledge around therapeutic parenting/therapy and techniques such as theraplay, DDP, PACE etc. Disseminate knowledge to adoptive families and colleagues.
- To advise, support and supervise placements as required, including Early Permanence placements and Foster to Adopt.
- To undertake some tracing and intermediary work for adopted adults wishing to seek information from their birth records.
- To attend team + reflective team meetings and contribute to all aspects of the team’s learning and development of good practice.
- To share in the responsibility for liaison with other Adoption agencies and relevant professional practice groups.
- To participate in training and continuous professional development in order to maintain a detailed understanding of current childcare and adoption legislation and practice. To actively disseminating knowledge to colleagues within and outside of the Social Work service at CCS.
- To play a part in communicating the work of the Agency’s role in the wider community.
- To complete other tasks with children and families within the permanency field dependant on business need.
- To undertake further duties at the request of the Head of Adoption and/or Social Work Team Manager.
Creativity and innovative practice are encouraged and welcomed.
Requirements
The post-holder will be a qualified Social Worker, preferably with adoption experience, who will undertake adoption assessments and support placements, as well as contribute to all aspects of the adoption service. This will include recruitment activities, family finding, post-adoption support and training
- The postholder must hold a recognised Social Work Diploma or Degree qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
CCS Adoption is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults; therefore, please note our recruitment procedure includes DBS checks (enhanced with barred list checks). All offers are subject to satisfactory checks and references.
All applicants will be required to submit both a CV and a CCS application form, due to our Safe recruitment practices, we will not be able to progress your application until these have been received.
Pay: £37,973.00-£41,994.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bristol BS4 1DQ
