Children's Adoption Social Worker

Hampshire County Council; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK local authority is hiring a Children's Adoption Social Worker in Eastleigh. The role involves building relationships with children and families, facilitating their adoption processes, and collaborating with various teams. The ideal candidate will have over three years of experience in childcare social work and be registered with Social Work England. The position offers flexible working options and ample progression opportunities, encouraging innovation and reflective practice.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Annual leave starting from 25 days

Hybrid working tablet device

Progression opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• At least three years post-qualifying experience in childcare social work is required.
• Must engage in life story work to support children moving on to adoption.
• Ability to maintain flexibility and creativity during high demand.

Responsibilities

• Practice as a social worker within an Outstanding rated local authority.
• Collaborate with children and families teams across Hampshire County Council.
• Participate in assessments and support operational needs during service demands.

Skills

Building meaningful relationships

Engaging children and families

Creative and flexible thinking

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Children's Adoption Social Worker

Job Reference: HCC622754
Salary Range: £40,643 - £45,077 per annum, plus Market Supplement of up to £3,000 per annum
Work Location: Countywide, Hampshire (office base Glen House, Swanwick)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 31 January 2026

Requirements: Due to the nature of the role, social workers require at least three years post‑qualifying experience in childcare social work under the Restriction on the Preparation of Reports Regulations 2005.

The Role: As a Children’s Adoption Social Worker within Hampshire County Council, you will practice in one of just a few local authorities in the country rated Outstanding by Ofsted. You will also have the added benefits of being under the management umbrella of Adopt South (RAA) to work closely with birth families, children and prospective adopters. You will collaborate with all the children and families teams across Hampshire County Council for parallel planning prior to placement orders being granted.

What you’ll do

Working across a large county, your main office base will происходи in Swanwick, but you will have access to all HCC buildings for increased flexibility. We encourage creativity and autonomy, provide regular reflection and effective supervision, and offer flexible working arrangements. When service demands are high, you may be required to undertake assessments in other areas of the service to support operational needs and ensure continuity of service. Flexibility may also be required during periods of high demand.

What we’re looking for

Registered with Social Work England, you will be highly skilled at building meaningful relationships with children and families, engaging them in life story work, and ensuring children moving on to adoption are supported throughout. You will need to be creative, flexible, forward‑thinking, and constantly striving to improve outcomes for children.

What we will provide

• A 9‑day working fortnight.
• Annual leave starting from 25 days per annum FTE, rising to 28 days FTE based on experience and length of service.
• A hybrid tablet device to work more effectively지역 and flexibly.
• Ample progression opportunities.
• Flexible working options to fit today’s lifestyles.

In addition to working for one of the top‑performing children’s social care authorities iwọ in the country, Hampshire is one of the best places to live and work, with excellent transport links, coastline, nature reserves and варианты heritage sites.

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check and references will be requested prior to interview.

Equal Opportunities Statement

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.