Head of RAA Operations

NFP PEOPLE BRANDED; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate leader for their Regional Adoption Agency. This exciting role involves overseeing operations across multiple local authorities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality adoption services. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in shaping outcomes for children and families, fostering a supportive environment for adoptive families. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this organization values the unique perspectives that candidates from various backgrounds bring. If you're dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading adoption services and working with local authorities.
• Strong understanding of child welfare and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations of the Regional Adoption Agency across local authority partners.
• Ensure best practice and compliance with statutory requirements in adoption services.

Skills

Leadership

Child Welfare

Adoption Services

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Degree in Social Work

Relevant Professional Qualification

Job description

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

About Coram Ambitious for Adoption RAA

Ambitious for Adoption is an established regional adoption agency that is organised on a hub and spoke service model. The activities of adopter recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters, the adoption panel, child placement support and the overall governance of the regional adoption agency is located at Coram Campus in Bloomsbury in London.

The activities of family finding and statutory adoption support (including families/individuals seeking adoption support in the area) is provided by Coram regional adoption agency staff located within the partner local authorities, alongside the wider children’s and multidisciplinary teams to ensure best practice for children where adoption becomes the plan. Our regional adoption partner agencies are: City of London, London Boroughs of Harrow, Bromley, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Slough Childrenfirst. The service is focussed on best outcomes for children and building strong support for adoptive families. The RAA has a dedicated governance board made up of senior representatives of participating local authorities. This is an exciting role, building upon the very positive outcomes emerging from the delivery of the RAA since 2019 and taking forward the outcomes of an RAA review and adoption modernisation agenda with the benefits of an outstanding Ofsted rate VAA and proven record of Coram’s dedication to children.

About the role

Coram Ambitious for Adoption is a unique Regional Adoption Agency, being a Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned to deliver the adoption services for nine local authorities.

This role is a Coram Appointment to lead the RAA operations across our local authority partners providing professional leadership staff and services and outcomes for children in adoption consistent with best practice and fulfilment of statutory and regulatory requirements.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: Sunday 25th May 2025 at 23:59

Interview Date: Monday 2nd June 2025

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.