AddressTerms and Conditions: Part time, Permanent. 18.5 hrs per wk
Department: People
Shortlisting Date: w/c 18th March 2024
Interview Date: 1st April 2024
Adoption Now is the Regional Adoption Agency for Blackburn with Darwen, Bury, Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside. The team is a dynamic group of Social Workers who are passionate about achieving the very best outcomes for children and about continually developing and improving practice both personally and across the service.
This post is based in our Blackburn with Darwen spoke (although working arrangements are very flexible) and includes statutory case responsibility for children on Placement Orders as well as Family Finding to ensure that permanence through adoption is achieved where possible and appropriate. The work is very varied and involves getting to know and building a relationship with children for up to two years of their life.
You will start by tracking children who are on PLO or in the court arena, attending Care Planning meetings to help form the permanence plan for the child, advising the case holding Social Worker and at times the court on matters relating to adoption. You will ensure that the child joins a family that can become their permanent family at the earliest possible time. At the point that adoption becomes the plan you will visit the child, profile them and start to consider adoptive families who can meet their needs. From the point of Placement Order you will gain statutory responsibility for the child, completing all LAC functions including visits, PEPs, reviews, etc whilst also continue Family Finding or progressing with a match. You will ensure that the child’s voice is central and that all documents including the CPR and other life story documents are written in a way that will help the child to understand when they are older their identity, journey and the decisions made on their behalf.
The role includes direct work with the child to help prepare them for adoption and deepen their understanding of why they are unable to live with their birth family or foster carers. Finally, you will support the child in moving to their adoptive family, support the child and Family until an adoption order is made and present the evidence to court which robustly analyses the ongoing need for adoption for that child with that family.
The role also allows opportunities to develop professional skills by taking on team and service wide roles such as delivering regular training, developing the information given to children, birth families and adopters and being involved in the quality control of elements such as early permanence.
Due to the nature of the role and the Adoption Regulations, it is ideally suited to a Social Worker who has three years post qualifying experience within Children’s Statutory Social Work, however we would be happy to consider applicants with slightly less experience but relevant skills, knowledge and understanding.
You will have access to excellent benefits including up to 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a comprehensive welfare service plus an employee benefits scheme which includes shopping discounts and a car lease/purchase scheme. In addition, financial benefits include subsidised parking and payment of registration with Social Work England.
You will also be able to take part in regular bespoke training opportunities on a wide range of relevant topics. We strongly encourage Continual Professional Development and will support you in exploring the best next steps for you.
What our employees say about working for us:
‘The management support I have received is amongst the best I have ever experienced.’ JB
‘I love being involved in seeing really positive outcomes for children after all of the trauma they have experienced, and being part of a team that is passionate about and dedicated to this.’ KW
You can also find out more information by visiting Join Our Team! | AdoptionNow
We would be happy to discuss the role in more detail or you are welcome to visit us to find out more. Please call Katrina Williams on 07741 840430.
