Social Worker

Southwark Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Adopt London South Regional Adoption Agency is seeking a passionate and dedicated Social Worker to join us and help make a difference today. You will provide high-quality adoption support services to adoptive families and birth relatives, supporting children to achieve and maintain stable family relationships.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, undertake assessments, and contribute to reducing delays in adoption while promoting inclusive practice and safeguarding standards.

Qualifications

• Must hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England is required.
• At least 3 years post-ASYE experience.
• Experience in permanence planning or adoption services is desirable.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse families and networks.
• Strong written and verbal communication, analytical thinking, and meeting deadlines.
• Commitment to anti-racist and inclusive practice.
• Familiarity with case management systems and safeguarding regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality adoption support to adoptive families and birth relatives.
• Undertake assessments and develop support plans for children and families.
• Collaborate with birth parents and extended networks to provide guidance.
• Contribute to reducing delays for children waiting for adoption, especially from Black and minoritised groups.
• Build partnerships with internal and external agencies across London.
• Participate in regional and national projects to strengthen adoption practice.

Skills

ASYE completed

Post-ASYE experience

Permanence planning

Adoption services

Relationship building

Communication skills

Deadline driven

Anti-racist practice

Case management systems

Regulations knowledge

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Do you see yourself making a lifelong difference in a child’s life through adoption?

Can you use your experience to help create safe, loving, and stable families for children across South London?

Does the idea of joining a forward-thinking and inclusive regional adoption agency inspire you?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

At Adopt London South Regional Adoption Agency we are looking for a passionate and dedicated Social Worker to join us and help make a difference today

What You’ll Be Doing

You will provide high-quality adoption support services to adoptive families and birth relatives, helping children achieve and maintain stable family relationships. Working within a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, you will:

• Support adoptive families following the Adoption Order through targeted interventions, direct work, and ongoing support.
• Undertake assessments and develop support plans to meet the needs of children and families.
• Work with birth parents and wider family networks to provide appropriate support and guidance.
• Contribute to reducing delays for children waiting for adoption, particularly children from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
• Build strong partnerships with internal and external agencies across London to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Participate in regional and national projects aimed at strengthening adoption practice and reducing inequalities.

A priority for Adopt London South and partner local authorities is reducing delays for children, particularly those from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, and especially boys, who research shows often wait longest for adoptive families. Adopt London South has strong links with organisations including the Black Adoption Project, We Are Family, and New Family Social, creating opportunities to contribute to wider sector improvements across London and nationally.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for experienced and committed Social Workers who are:

• Qualified Social Workers who have completed their ASYE and have at least 3 years' post-ASYE experience.
• Experienced in permanence planning, adoption services, or able to demonstrate transferable skills from related areas of practice.
• Skilled in building positive relationships with diverse families and professional networks.
• Effective communicators with strong written and verbal skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Confident in managing varied caseloads and delivering appropriate interventions.
• Committed to anti-racist and inclusive practice, with a focus on reducing racial disparities in adoption.
• Competent in using case management systems and maintaining accurate records in line with policies and procedures.
• Knowledgeable about childcare and adoption legislation, regulations, and statutory guidance.
• Motivated to continue their professional development and develop skills in group work and training delivery.
• Flexible and responsive to the needs of the adoption community.
• Experienced in, or willing to learn about, therapeutic approaches such as DDP, TLSW, GBB, NVR, or similar models.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

• You must hold a recognised social work qualification.
• You should have current registration with Social Work England and not be subject to any SWE investigations.
• You should hold or undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level.
• Hours of work: 36 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
• Location: 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH.
• This opportunity is being offered as a Fixed Term Contract/Secondment for 12 Months (From: 1st October 2026 to 30th September 2027).

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on [e-mail] before sharing any personal information.

Recruitment Timeline:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Monday 14 th September 2026.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through ourSouthwark Stands Together initiative . We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Salary Range (Full time equivalent) £45,852 - £53,319