Independent Social Worker

Connect2Hampshire; Southampton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Adopt South is seeking an experienced Adoption Support Social Worker to assess prospective adopters and provide ongoing support within the Adoption Stage 2 service. You will work across the region, including travel to families, to ensure high-quality practice and timely reports for matching and placement.

The role involves delivering workshops, engaging with partner agencies, and developing families through the adoption process, with a focus on safeguarding and empowering children and carers.

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Experience of working with children and families in social work setting.
• Concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Mediation and negotiation skills.
• Experience of report writing.
• Ability to assess risks, needs, and to analyse information and recognise problems.
• Understand equalities issues in social work practice and principles of safety, dignity and empowerment.
• Understand philosophies, professional social work issues and legal frameworks.
• Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording.
• Computer literate with basic numeracy skills.
• Highly organised and able to manage time and conflicting demands effectively.
• Willing to learn and develop in the role, with ongoing training and personal development.
• Able to be flexible with working arrangements to meet the operational requirements of the post.

Responsibilities

• Providing advice and support to Prospective Adopters both in person and virtually.
• Working with partner agencies to improve outcomes for children placed for adoption.
• Completion of Prospective Adopter Assessments, Adoption Placement Reports and Annex A reports in agreed timescales.
• Presenting reports at approval and linking panel.
• Develop collaborative relationships with prospective adoptive parents to improve outcomes for children placed for adoption.
• Refer to other relevant agencies where appropriate to ensure all risks and needs are considered.
• Take appropriate action in conjunction with other agencies and within legal and statutory framework, to protect vulnerable people.
• Managing a caseload of prospective adopters within organisational policy and procedure.

Skills

Verbal and written comms

Mediation skills

Report writing

Risk assessment

Equality and safeguarding

Data protection

Numeracy

Time management

Willing to learn

Education

Degree in Social Work

Registration with Social Work England

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

Independent Social Worker (Adoption Assessing and Support)

Location: Glen House Swanick, Southampton

Contract Type: Casual

Salary £22.92 per hour

About Adopt South

Adopt South is a regional adoption agency, launched in April 2019. The agency is formed through the partnership between Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, with support from voluntary adoption agencies, Adoption UK, Barnardo's and PACT.

Adopt South fulfils all aspects of its statutory duties as a regional adoption agency, to ensure matching is as quick as it can be, to improve the life chances of adopted children and to improve adopter recruitment and adoption support.

Adopt South's Adoption Stage 2 Service involves the full assessment of prospective adopters and supporting them as adoptive families after children have been placed with them.

The focus of our work is to assess the suitability of individuals who wish to adopt. We need to ensure they have the abilities and understanding to care for children that have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Should we assess them to become prospective adopters we then support them from when a child is placed with them, through to the Adoption Order. Along the way it is important that we work with prospective adopters to develop and continue their learning. To ensure our services are accessible to adoptive families, this role does include the provision of workshops and events that are held on evenings and weekends and are shared across the team.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Adoption Support Social Worker who can apply professional knowledge to transform outcomes for individuals, relatives and carers whilst facilitating effective multi-agency solutions. With your significant Social Work experience, you'll have excellent communication skills and the ability to relate to all different kinds of people, plus the motivation to grow in your role through personal and professional development.

Above all, you will be determined to make a difference for both the service and the children and families who need it. you will know what excellent practice looks like and will be able and to improve outcomes for children and adopters. Most importantly however, you will have a passion for supporting children and families to ensure that they thrive and flourish.

Key Role Responsibilities

• Providing advice and support to Prospective Adopters both in person and virtually
• Working with partner agencies to improve outcomes for children placed for adoption
• Completion of Prospective Adopter Assessments, Adoption Placement Reports and Annex A reports in agreed timescales
• Presenting reports at approval and linking panel
• Develop collaborative relationships with prospective adoptive parents to improve outcomes for children placed for adoption.
• Refer to other relevant agencies where appropriate to ensure all risks and needs are considered.
• Take appropriate action in conjunction with other agencies and within legal and statutory framework, to protect vulnerable people.
• Managing a caseload of prospective adopters within organisational policy and procedure.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experiences

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work
• Registration with Social Work England
• Experience of working with children and families in social work setting
• Concise verbal and written communication skills
• Mediation and negotiation skills
• Experience of report writing
• Ability to assess risks, needs, and to analyse information and recognise problems
• Understand equalities issues in social work practice and principals of safety, dignity and empowerment
• Understand philosophies, professional social work issues and legal frameworks
• Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording
• Computer literate with basic numeracy skills
• Highly organised and able to manage time and conflicting demands effectively
• Willing to learn and develop in the role, with ongoing training and personal development
• Able to be flexible with working arrangements to meet the operational requirements of the post

Working conditions of the role may include

• Working with adults and children.
• You must be able to meet the travel requirements of the role. Generally, this means that you will require a full driving licence and access to a car, but reasonable adjustments to this requirement will be considered to cater for a declared disability.
• Travel to families across the Adopt South Region including Isle of Wight.
• Display screen equipment user.

Vetting Requirements

This post is subject to a criminal records check.

It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.