Social Worker

The Isle Of Wight Council's Terms & Conditions; Carisbrooke; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 32 days

Pension scheme

Ferry travel discount

Bus discount

Cycle to work

Parking permit

Relocation assistance

Travel allowance

Job summary

Adopt South is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join the Adoption Support Team on the Isle of Wight. The role focuses on assessment, development of support plans and trauma-informed practice, with travel to the Head Office for supervision and team meetings.

You will work with adoptive families across the region, delivering tailored support, workshops and group work, while collaborating with partner agencies to ensure timely, protective and outcome-focused services.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Experience of trauma, attachment, identity, loss in children.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to assess risks and develop outcome-focused plans.
• Willing to learn and develop in role.
• Flexible with working arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support to parents via Adopt South Advice and Support Line.
• Develop and deliver Adopt South support services through individual, family and group work.
• Undertaking Adoption Support Needs Assessments within agreed timescales and developing, delivering and reviewing Adoption Support Plans.
• Refer to other relevant agencies to ensure risks and needs are considered.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns with Children’s Services and partners to protect children and families.
• Manage a diverse caseload and deliver high-quality adoption support in line with policies and guidance.

Skills

Relationship-based practice

Communication skills

Time management

Trauma-informed

Education

Degree in Social Work

3+ years post-qualifying experience

Job description

Work Location: County Hall, Isle of Wight, with regular travel (approximately twice weekly) to Adopt South's Head Office in Swanwick for supervision, duty cover, team meetings, and other Regional Adoption Agency activities. Adopt South is a partnership Regional Adoption Agency, bringing together Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to provide adoption services across the region. We are passionate about helping adopted children, young people and families thrive through innovative, relationship-based and trauma-informed practice. We are looking for an experienced and motivated Social Worker to join Adopt South's Adoption Support Team, in a role based on the Isle of Wight. This is an opportunity to use your relationship-based practice skills to make a real difference for adopted children and their families. Working alongside families as they navigate family life, education, identity and the lifelong impact of adoption, you will help children feel understood, strengthen family relationships, and ensure families can access the right support at the right time. Based on the Isle of Wight, you will work primarily with local adoptive families while being part of a specialist regional service across Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. Alongside experienced colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds, you will continue to develop your expertise in adoption, trauma-informed practice, attachment and therapeutic approaches.

About Adopt South's Adoption Support Team

Our Adoption Support Team provides a wide range of services to adopted children and their families, including Adoption Support Needs Assessments, therapeutic parenting support, consultation sessions, support groups, workshops, advice and guidance, and the development and commissioning of tailored support packages. We take a therapeutic and strengths-based approach, recognising the unique experiences of every adopted child and family. When families seek support, our social workers work alongside them to understand their experiences, build on existing strengths, and identify practical and therapeutic support that promotes stability, resilience and positive family relationships. Our focus is on helping families navigate the lifelong impact of adoption while ensuring children feel understood, supported and able to thrive. When families contact us for help or support, our social workers take a compassionate and strengths-based approach, working in partnership with families to understand what is happening in their lives and help them access the support and resources that will make a positive difference. To ensure our services are accessible to families, the role includes contributing to workshops, support groups and events, some of which take place during evenings and weekends. These responsibilities are shared across the team.

About You

You will be an experienced Social Worker with strong assessment and relationship-based practice skills and a commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and families. You will be a confident communicator who can build effective relationships with children, parents and professionals, work collaboratively across agencies, and bring both professional curiosity and empathy to your practice. Whether you already have adoption experience or are looking to develop specialist knowledge in this area, you will be committed to ongoing learning and development and passionate about supporting adopted children and their families to thrive.

Key Role Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support to parents via our Adopt South Advice and Support Line team
• Develop and deliver Adopt South support services through individual, family and group work.
• Undertaking Adoption Support Needs Assessments within agreed timescales and developing, delivering and reviewing Adoption Support Plans to meet the needs of adopted children and their families.
• Refer to other relevant agencies where appropriate, to ensure all risks and needs are considered.
• Identify and appropriately escalate safeguarding concerns, working alongside Children's Services and partner agencies to ensure children and families receive the right level of support and protection.
• Managing a diverse caseload of adopted children and families, building effective relationships and delivering high-quality adoption support in line with organisational policies, procedures and statutory guidance
  A degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work, with a minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience
• Registration with Social Work England
• Experience of supporting children and families where there are issues relating to trauma, attachment, identity, loss and early childhood experiences
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience of undertaking complex assessments and developing outcome-focused support plans.
• Strong communication and relationship-based practice skills, including the ability to manage difficult conversations, negotiate effectively and work collaboratively with families and professionals
• Experience of report writing
• Ability to assess risks, needs, and to analyse information and recognise problems
• Understanding of the impact of trauma, attachment difficulties, loss and identity issues on adopted children and their families
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and professional standards relating to social work and adoption support practice
• Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording
• Able to use digital systems effectively to maintain accurate case records, complete assessments, analyse information, and communicate with families and professionals
• 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:
  • Potential verbal abuse and/or physical aggression.
  • This is an Essential Car User post. The postholder must be able to undertake regular travel across the Adopt South region and therefore will normally be required to hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes
  • Display screen equipment user.
• The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination, and this is supported by;
• The Isle of Wight Council's Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request.
• This council and its schools recruit according to the council's Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
• The Isle of Wight Council is committed to supporting all newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) via a robust post-graduate competency framework, the 'Assessed and Supported Year of Employment' (ASYE). The ASYE is intended to be the first stage of continuing professional development for Registered Social Workers. The framework will be closely allied to the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). You will be therefore, be required to satisfactorily complete the ASYE programme within a 12-month period (or 18 months if part-time).
• Vetting Requirements: This post is subject to a criminal records check. As such please note, we will take up references prior to interview.
• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Local Government pension scheme
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff parking permit scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)