Adoption Social worker - Working for Essex

About the role

Adoption Social worker

Permanent, Part Time 18 Hours Per week

£36,101 to £48,622 Per Annum Full Time Equivalent , Pro Rata £17,562 to £23,53 per annum

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: 17th March 2025

Please note this is a Part time role, 18 hours per week with a flexible hybrid working arrangement, visit service users in the wider operational areas and office bases

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

Job purpose

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.

Social workers manage a defined caseload, including assessment of risk and purposeful intervention through direct relationship based work and review. Delivering excellent practice and value for money services.

A registered social worker, educated to degree level, with ability to demonstrate practice in accordance with current professional standards. Experienced in developing strong working relationships with partners, other agencies and stakeholders to deliver improved outcomes.

The Team This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who undertake family finding activities for children whose care plans are one of adoption, complete direct/life story work with children to support their transition from foster care to adoption and offer support once children are placed with their adoptive families. The team is based in Colchester however the adoption agency covers the county and therefore we support colleagues in our neighbouring quadrant teams when required.

The Role

To act as a role model and source of professional expertise in relation to current best practice in adoption.

To uphold statutory requirements of both adoption and children’s legislation, plus any Departmental requirements

To participate in team meetings and to attend any other meetings as required, including wider agency/departmental meetings

To attend relevant children’s reviews and adoption planning meetings when required by the team manager

To family find for children with a plan of adoption and participate in targeted profiling events (regionally and nationwide as required)

To undertake direct work ensuring that children are suitably prepared to make the transition to an adoptive family to maximise their chance of a successful adoption.

To participate in permanency planning activities and completion of sibling assessments

To assess and compile Adoption Support Plans, commissioning services where required and presenting these with a Matching Report to the Adoption Panel.

To offer support to birth parents whose children are being placed for adoption, facilitating birth parents and adopters meeting and support with keeping in touch arrangements.

To ensure both the safety and best interests of children are paramount and that child protection procedures are followed

The Experience You Will Bring

A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with the Social Work England as a registered social worker.

Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.

Experience within a social work setting with evidence of challenging social and family situations.

Strong communication skills and an ability to develop a rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals.

Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community, to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and families.

Understand delivery of value for money interventions balanced against need.

Evidence of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.

To read more about us please visit Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk. We welcome you to have an informal discussion with the recruiting team manager.

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