Adoption Social Worker

Islington Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Greater London is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their Adoption Support team. The ideal candidate will provide therapeutic support to adoptive families and individuals, conduct case work, and facilitate group support sessions. With at least 2 years of experience in children's social work, the candidate will possess empathy and a deep understanding of the complexities of adoption. The role offers flexible hybrid working arrangements and employee benefits to foster well-being and professional development.

Benefits

Up to 31 days leave per year

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Competitive pay with London Living Wage

Local government pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted gym memberships

Local discounts from various businesses

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in front-line children’s social work teams.
• Experience working with children with permanency plans.
• Commitment to supporting adoptive families and understanding their challenges.

Responsibilities

• Arrange therapeutic support for families through the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund.
• Case work with families needing advice, support, and advocacy.
• Access and share adoption records with adopted adults.
• Help maintain contact between birth families and adoptive families.
• Support through group activities for adopted individuals and their parents.
• Participate in training, development, and practice projects.

Skills

Qualified and experienced Social Worker

Empathy for challenges faced by families and adopted people

Experience with complex written assessments

Understanding of adoption benefits and challenges

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Overview

We are looking to recruit a Social Worker to our Adoption Support team. The Adoption Support team runs a busy service supporting adoptive families, adopted adults, and birth families. Work includes arranging therapeutic support under the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund, case working with families who need advice, support and advocacy, accessing and sharing adoption records with adopted adults, and helping birth families and adoptive families remain in contact. The team also provides support through groups run for adopted children, adopted adults and parents of adopted teenagers. We give staff the opportunity to express an interest in moving to a different team within Adopt London North as spaces in the service become available, ensuring a broad range of opportunities to develop knowledge and expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Arrange therapeutic support under the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund.
• Case work with families who need advice, support and advocacy.
• Access and share adoption records with adopted adults.
• Help birth families and adoptive families remain in contact.
• Support groups for adopted children, adopted adults, and parents of adopted teenagers.
• Work on training, development days, and practice development projects, including facilitating group work and delivering training and workshops.

Working Arrangements

We have a flexible hybrid working style. You will be required to work from the office several times a week and will also undertake meetings with clients in the office and in their homes, but you will have flexibility to choose whether you prefer to be home or office‑based on other days.

Pre‑Employment Checks

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.
• At least 2 years’ experience of working in front‑line children’s social work teams, including some experience of working with children with permanency plans.
• Understanding of both the benefits and the challenges that different permanency arrangements, including adoption, can bring to a child.
• Committed to providing support to families and adopted people, with empathy for the challenges they may face.
• Experience undertaking complex written assessments and making recommendations to the court and / or decision‑making panels.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring that our communities are represented across our workforce at all levels. We take meaningful, intentional action to create an inclusive culture, challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice, and actively promote a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives. As part of our 'Black Adoption Project’, we provide confidential, therapeutically supported Safer Spaces sessions on a monthly basis to Black staff. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Staff Benefits

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• Flexible working arrangements and a 35‑hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

EEO Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.