Regional Adoption Panel Advisor

Staffordshire County Council; England; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional government authority in the United Kingdom is seeking a qualified Regional Adoption Panel Advisor responsible for the effective functioning of Adoption Panels. Applicants must have substantial experience in adoption and children's social care and a solid understanding of relevant legislation. This full-time position involves providing professional guidance to ensure quality and compliance. If you are a qualified social worker with strong interpersonal and analytical skills, this could be the opportunity for you to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience in adoption and children's social care.
• In-depth knowledge of adoption legislation, regulations, and guidance.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to analyse complex reports and evidence, identifying strengths and risks.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the functioning of Adoption Panels across the region.
• Lead the quality assurance of papers for Adoption Panels.
• Provide professional social work advice and guidance.
• Provide professional social work advice on complex, legal and ethical information within policy.
• Lead recruitment, training, annual appraisal processes and selection of Panel Chairs, Vice Chairs and Members.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Professional judgement

Education

Qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England

Job description

Join to apply for the Regional Adoption Panel Advisor role at Staffordshire County Council.

This role is part of Together4Children, an innovative partnership of four local authorities that works collaboratively to improve outcomes for children who enter care and are not able to return to their families of origin. Together4Children aims to ensure children achieve emotional, physical and legal permanence in loving homes.

Staffordshire County Council provided pay range

This range is provided by Staffordshire County Council. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Together4Children is an innovative and forward-thinking Partnership of 4 Local Authorities, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.

Responsibilities

• Have overall responsibility for the effective functioning of specific Adoption Panels across the Together4Children Regional Permanency Arrangement.
• Ensure Regional Adoption Panels run smoothly and timely by coordinating with panel administrators.
• Lead the quality assurance of papers being prepared for Adoption Panels to ensure they meet the necessary standards with adherence to appropriate internal and external legislation.
• Provide professional social work advice and guidance to specific Together4Children Regional Adoption Panels, providing specialist complex, legal and ethical information in respect of internal and external legislation, policies and procedures.
• Lead the recruitment, training, annual appraisal processes and termination of Regional Panel Chairperson(s), Vice Panel Chairperson(s) and Panel Members in line with the Policies and Procedures of the Together4Children Regional Permanency Arrangement.

Qualifications

• Be a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England.
• Have substantial professional experience in adoption and children’s social care.
• Have an in depth knowledge of adoption legislation, regulations, statutory guidance and national minimum standards.
• Possess a high level of interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships with Managers, Senior Managers and Legal Services.
• Have excellent communication skills, both verbally and written. Liaise with staff and managers within and outside of the Agency at all levels and prepare high quality written work as evidence for performance data.
• Be able to analyse complex reports and evidence, identifying strengths, risks and gaps.
• Have strong professional judgement and the ability to maintain objective and child focussed.
• Be committed to continuous professional development.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Government Administration