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An experienced Children’s Social Worker is required to join an Adoption Team, supporting children and families throughout the adoption process. This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to children who are unable to live safely within their birth families, helping them achieve permanence, stability and positive lifelong outcomes.

You will manage a varied caseload involving children requiring adoptive placements, prospective adopters and birth families. Responsibilities will include completing robust assessments, preparing care and permanence plans, undertaking direct work with children, contributing to matching decisions and providing effective support before, during and after placement. You will also contribute to adoption panel reports, court work, statutory visits, reviews and other permanency planning activity.

The role requires close partnership working with colleagues across children’s services, fostering and adoption, health, education, legal services and external agencies. You will maintain accurate and timely records, prepare high-quality assessments and reports, and ensure that practice complies with relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and safeguarding procedures. You will be expected to promote the child’s voice, identity, heritage and wellbeing in all decision-making.

Applicants must hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. You should have sound knowledge of children’s social care, safeguarding, permanence planning and adoption legislation, together with experience of undertaking complex assessments and managing sensitive cases. Experience of adoption work, court proceedings or family placement services would be advantageous.

You will need excellent communication, analytical and organisational skills, alongside the ability to build trusting relationships with children, families and professionals. A confident and reflective approach is essential, as is the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and contribute positively to a supportive team environment. You must be committed to anti-discriminatory practice, equality of opportunity and achieving the best possible outcomes for children.