Independent Social Worker

Coram; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Coram Adoption is seeking experienced freelance Social Workers to undertake assessments of prospective adopters and Early Permanence carers. Roles cover London and wider England, with travel to applicants’ homes and optional remote meetings via video conferencing.

Applicants must have a Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England, plus at least three years post-qualifying experience in children’s services. Rolling recruitment.

Qualifications

• Experience completing adoption assessments and understanding adoption processes.
• Ability to travel to applicants’ homes and conduct remote meetings via video conferencing.
• Knowledge of current adoption legislation and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments of prospective adopters and Early Permanence carers.
• Travel to applicants’ homes and conduct meetings face-to-face and remotely.
• Prepare Prospective Adopters Reports and comply with regulatory standards.
• Meet deadlines and participate in induction and ongoing training.

Skills

Travel to applicants' homes

Adoption assessments experience

Prospective Adopters Reports writing

Well organised and self-motivated

Education

Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England

Job description

Hours: Assignments are commissioned as required in line with service demand and the Associate’s availability

Salary: £2,300 - £2,600 per assessment. Additional fees paid for post approval and post placement support.

Location: Home based with the expectation that Independent Social Workers are able to travel to meet with prospective adopters and come into the office as required for relevant meetings

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 Adoption

Coram Adoption, a member of the Coram Group of charities, has over 40 years’ experience in finding permanent loving families for children needing adoption. As a voluntary adoption agency, we work mostly in London and Home Counties and in partnership with ten local authorities to deliver the Coram Ambitious for Adoption regional adoption agency.

We are committed to making adoption happen for children where this is the plan and are very proud to be working with our adoptive families and our adopted young people in shaping the future of the service. We maintain the very best of local authority adoption practice and continue to be rated an outstanding Adoption Agency by Ofsted. Coram Adoption is a member of CVAA , the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies.

At Coram Adoption, everyone is passionate about what we do because we understand that our work is life changing for the children and families we support.

About the role

We are seeking to recruit experienced freelance Social Workers to undertake assessments of prospective adopters and Early Permanence carers. Opportunities are available for individuals who can work within London and/or across a wider geographical area of England.

Applicants must be self-motivated, organised, and able to work effectively to agreed deadlines, while demonstrating flexibility in responding to the needs of applicants and the agency. Experience in completing adoption assessments, together with a sound understanding of adoption processes, legislation, and regulatory requirements, is essential.

A comprehensive induction programme and ongoing training and development opportunities will be provided.

In addition to adoption experience applicants interested in working with Coram Adoption should also have the following credentials:

• A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England
• At least three years post-qualifying experience in children's social care settings
• Experience of completing adoption assessments and writing Prospective Adopters Reports.
• Ability and willingness to travel to applicants’ homes and to conduct assessments and meetings both face-to-face and remotely via video conferencing technology
• A good understanding of the issues affecting adopted people, and particularly those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Closing Date: Rolling Recruitment – Wednesday 31st March 2027 at 23:59

Interview Date: TBC

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, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBTQ+, 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.