Job summary
*** WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS DIRECT
ON NHS JOBS. IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE PLEASE APPLY ON OUR
WEBSITE OR COPY AND PASTE THE LINK BELOW IN TO YOUR BROWSER ***
https://fa-euxi-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/5378/?utm_medium=jobshare/details?sType=NHSJobs#/reference/5378
Salary:£19,313 - £20,238 per annum (plus 8% market supplement until 31st March 2026)
Closing date:Wednesday 13th August 2025
Contract type:Temporary maternity cover
Hours:Part time 18.5 hours per week
Interview date:Wednesday 20th August 2025
Main duties of the job
Main Duties
- Providing advice and support to adoptive families
- Assessing the support needs of adoptive families
- Working with children and families with complex needs
- Providing therapeutic support to families either directly or via ASF applications
About us
Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency and registered Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Councils. Adoption West provides a range of adoption services including:
- The recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters
- Family finding services for children requiring permanency via adoption
- Post adoption support services
- Services to birth family and adopted adults
This is an exciting time to join Adoption West as we build on the solid foundations already in place and our Good rating from Ofsted. As part of an internal restructure, our functions going forward will be service led across the region, rather than office/hub based.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The assessment of adopters and the matching and placements of children for
adoption:
- Undertaking assessments of prospective adopters and presenting assessments to
the Adoption Panel
- Provide support to prospective adopters during and after approval, including through
the LAC reviewing process.
- Contributing to the development and training of adopters.
- Assessment of adoption support needs giving due consideration to the wishes
and opinions of the child and the adoptive family, the nature of the problem that
has called for adoption support:
- To draw up support plan and implement, with the child and adoptive family, an
appropriate action plan to come to terms with or ameliorate the identified problems.
- To convene and chair case specific and other liaison/multiagency meetings as
appropriate.
- All children in need procedures are completed in a timely manner.
- Applications sourced and made to the Adoption Support Fund
- Providing an efficient homefinding service that meets the needs of children
needing adoptive placements within prescribed timescales:
- To provide consultation to Social workers who are placing children for adoption
- To work jointly with social workers to assess appropriate matches for children
needing adoptive placements.
- To support and promote the development of a dedicated adoption team
identity and shared objectives within a changing and developing
environment which include:
- To contribute to the timeliness of the Prospective Adopter Reports (PARs),
Adoption Support Assessments and Non Agency Adoptions
- The team continues to provide and develop the adoption support core offer as outlined in
the adoption passport
- Looked after children and adoption regulations requirements are completed within
timescales.
- Provision of birth records counselling and supporting adopted adults to access birth records.
- Participate in the teams duty rota
- Model and provide good equalities practice. Value diversity within the team and in
contact with other professionals, children, young people and families.
CA11-1475 SW Adoption West Sept 18 Page 5 of 8
- Operate within the County policy and regularly updates him/herself with social work
methods, new legislation and procedures, including Childrens Act 2004 and Every Child
Matters.
- To secure the effective involvement of parents/carers, children and young people in the
development and evaluation of services.
- Through liaison with other professionals build positive working relationships to
ensure effective joint working practices.
- Acquire and maintain local knowledge including links with and information of
statutory and voluntary groups in order to maximise co-ordination and joint working
to improve outcomes for children.
- To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation,
ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.
- To assist the Manager and ATM in the robust management of resources within the
team by ensuring quality and value for money in service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The assessment of adopters and the matching and placements of children for
adoption:
- Undertaking assessments of prospective adopters and presenting assessments to
the Adoption Panel
- Provide support to prospective adopters during and after approval, including through
the LAC reviewing process.
- Contributing to the development and training of adopters.
- Assessment of adoption support needs giving due consideration to the wishes
and opinions of the child and the adoptive family, the nature of the problem that
has called for adoption support:
- To draw up support plan and implement, with the child and adoptive family, an
appropriate action plan to come to terms with or ameliorate the identified problems.
- To convene and chair case specific and other liaison/multiagency meetings as
appropriate.
- All children in need procedures are completed in a timely manner.
- Applications sourced and made to the Adoption Support Fund
- Providing an efficient homefinding service that meets the needs of children
needing adoptive placements within prescribed timescales:
- To provide consultation to Social workers who are placing children for adoption
- To work jointly with social workers to assess appropriate matches for children
needing adoptive placements.
- To support and promote the development of a dedicated adoption team
identity and shared objectives within a changing and developing
environment which include:
- To contribute to the timeliness of the Prospective Adopter Reports (PARs),
Adoption Support Assessments and Non Agency Adoptions
- The team continues to provide and develop the adoption support core offer as outlined in
the adoption passport
- Looked after children and adoption regulations requirements are completed within
timescales.
- Provision of birth records counselling and supporting adopted adults to access birth records.
- Participate in the teams duty rota
- Model and provide good equalities practice. Value diversity within the team and in
contact with other professionals, children, young people and families.
CA11-1475 SW Adoption West Sept 18 Page 5 of 8
- Operate within the County policy and regularly updates him/herself with social work
methods, new legislation and procedures, including Childrens Act 2004 and Every Child
Matters.
- To secure the effective involvement of parents/carers, children and young people in the
development and evaluation of services.
- Through liaison with other professionals build positive working relationships to
ensure effective joint working practices.
- Acquire and maintain local knowledge including links with and information of
statutory and voluntary groups in order to maximise co-ordination and joint working
to improve outcomes for children.
- To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation,
ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.
- To assist the Manager and ATM in the robust management of resources within the
team by ensuring quality and value for money in service delivery.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
