Adoption Social Worker

The starting salary for this position is £23,613 per annum based on a 21.60 hour working week, pro-rata to £39,355.

If you are looking for a new opportunity to join a supportive and well-regarded team, we are excited to tell you about two new Social Worker positions which are now available at Adoption South East!

The positions available are as follows:

1 x part-time (21.60 hours per week), permanent position
1 x part-time (21.60 hours per week), 12-month, fixed-term position
Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the team

Adoption South East (ASE) is a highly regarded regional adoption agency that operates on behalf of four local authorities: Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. As a partnership-driven organisation, ASE implements a 'hub and spoke' model, with a central hub located in Lewes, East Sussex and additional offices in each local authority. Our dedicated team works collaboratively to provide exceptional adoption services in the region.

Staff are all employed on local terms and conditions, and in this instance, you would be employed by Surrey County Council with a base at Quadrant Court in Woking. By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to work alongside supportive and dedicated adoption professionals, benefiting from local and organisation-wide development prospects.

About the role

As a Social Worker with ASE you will regularly travel to visit adopting families across our region (and occasionally beyond this, as required). Administrative work associated with the role can be completed using hybrid working arrangements, either from one of our offices or home as preferred, with an expectation that you attend the office on an occasional basis for team meetings or as determined by the team manager.

You will hold a varied caseload, including assessment of prospective adopters from stage 2 to adoption order. The team also undertakes family finding and provides adoption support following placement and the making of adoption orders, which you may support with.

To gain further insight into our mission and work, please visit our website.

At ASE we foster a supportive and inclusive work environment, offering flexible working arrangements. We believe in the power of our team's expertise and are committed to providing ongoing professional development opportunities.

Shortlisting criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• You are a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Sound knowledge of social work practice and legislation
• Strong commitment to securing permanency for children through adoption
• Experience of research and evidence-based practice
• Commitment to inclusive practice
• Ability to work autonomously
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes

If you are a motivated Social Worker looking to make a meaningful impact in the field of adoption, we invite you to apply. Join us in our mission to create permanent homes for vulnerable children.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Suzanne Chambers (Service Manager) on 01932 79434.

This advert closes at 23:59 on 21st April 2024 with interviews planned for week commencing 29th April in person at Quadrant Court.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.