Social Worker - Adoption

Warrington Borough Council; Warrington; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Benefits package

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Job summary

Warrington Borough Council is seeking a passionate Adoption Social Worker to join our dedicated adoption team. You will work with children, prospective adopters, first families and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children who need safe, loving and permanent homes.

The role requires three years post-qualifying experience in children's social care, excellent communication, and the ability to write comprehensive reports for Adoption panel and Court.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years post-qualifying experience in children's social care.
• Experience in adoption is preferred.
• Enhanced DBS checks and references will be required.

Responsibilities

• Undertake statutory duties for children with an plan of adoption and manage family finding, matching with adopters, and Court reporting.
• Prepare the child for adoption, plan introductions, and support transition to the new family, including post-placement follow-up until Adoption Order.
• Provide guidance to Family Help teams on maintaining relationships post adoption and contribute to post-adoption training.

Skills

Communication skills

Report writing

Job description

Social Worker - Adoption

Salary GRADE 08 (£39,152 - £42,839)

About us

The Adoption Team sits within a Children in Care Team, the team are extremely supportive of each other, motivated and child focussed.

We have an excellent relationship with Together for Adoption, our Regional Adoption Agency and enjoy close working relationships with the social workers and managers. We also have good working relationships with the voluntary adoption agencies.

The role

We are looking for a passionate, experienced, skilled and committed Social Worker to join our dedicated adoption team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families by supporting every stage of the adoption journey.

As an Adoption Social Worker, you will work collaboratively with children, prospective adopters, first families and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children who need safe, loving and permanent homes.

Key responsibilities

• As an Adoption Social Worker, you will undertake statutory duties for children with a plan of adoption and be responsible for family finding, matching children with prospective adopters, completing APR's, ASP’s and CPR's for Adoption panel, completing Annex A reports for Court and attending Court on behalf of the Local Authority.

• As the child’s social worker, you would be responsible for preparing the child for adoption, planning their introductions and supporting them with their transition to their new family. You would then support the child post placement up until their Adoption Order was granted in Court. You would also be responsible for sharing the child's narrative with them through their life story book and later in life letter.

• Your role would also involve providing the Family Help teams with advice and guidance around maintaining relationships post adoption, early permanence, CPR’s and post adoption support. This also includes the delivery of training.

• You as the applicant will need to have excellent communication skills and be able to build relationships with children, their carers, first families and prospective adopters. The applicant will also need to have excellent written skills and be able to write comprehensive reports for Adoption panel and Court.

The role can be emotionally challenging at times and empathy; understanding and emotional resilience are considered essential requirements for the post.

What's needed?

Applicants should have a minimum of three years post qualifying experience in children's social care and preferably some experience in working in adoption.

The above post will be subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references and will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, working for us means you get:

• 26 days annual holiday - raising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata)

• Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package

• Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme

Key Dates & Further Information

Closing date: 25 September 2026

Interview date: 2 October 2026

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

DBS clearance is required.

Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employer