Adoption Team Manager

Durham County Council; North East; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the North East of the UK is seeking a Team Manager for their Adoption Service. This role involves leading an adoption team, ensuring thorough assessments, and matching children with their ideal families. Candidates should have at least 5 years of management experience in adoption. Join a supportive environment committed to impactful outcomes for children and families.

Benefits

Attractive salary

Generous annual leave (27 days)

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• 5 years post-qualifying relevant management experience including adoption.
• Experience in a senior social worker or management role.
• Strong commitment to improving outcomes for children.

Responsibilities

• Lead the adoption team focusing on performance and practice development.
• Ensure thorough adopter assessments.
• Match children with suitable families.

Skills

Leadership

Performance Management

Adoption Practice

Collaboration

Job description

Lead the Future of Adoption in Durham – Team Manager Opportunity

Are you ready to make a real impact in children’s lives? Durham’s Adoption Service is evolving, and we’re looking for a visionary Team Manager to help shape its future. This is your chance to join a passionate, high‑performing team and lead on key areas like Family Finding, Early Permanence, and Keeping in Touch. You’ll work alongside our existing manager to drive innovation, improve outcomes, and ensure every child finds the right family. As Panel Advisor, you’ll bring at least 5 years of post‑qualifying experience, a sharp eye for quality, and a commitment to excellence in adoption practice.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

• Leading one of our adoption teams with a focus on performance, supervision, and practice development.
• Ensuring adopter assessments are thorough and timely.
• Matching children with families who truly meet their needs.
• Overseeing Post Adoption Support tailored to each family.
• Taking the lead on Family Finding, Non‑Agency Adoption, and Access to Records.
• Collaborating with our Regional Adoption Agency partners to share learning and drive best practice.

Why Durham?

We’re proud of our strong, supportive adoption service and the life‑changing outcomes we achieve for children and families. You’ll be supported by both our Service Manager and the Regional Head of Service, with plenty of opportunities to grow and lead. Please contact Service Manager Lesley Baldry to arrange an informal discussion on [e-mail].

WHAT WILL I NEED?

Experience of being in either a senior social worker or management role.

5 years post‑qualifying relevant management experience to include adoption.

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on Monday 1st December.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked‑after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career ave Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

HOW TO APPLY

Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the Person Specification section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website.

If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email [e-mail].

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from [e-mail]. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.

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