Adoption Support Worker

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To actively participate in consultation, development and provision of adoption support services in conjunction with other social work staff.

To be responsible, under the direction of the Team Manager, for a caseload of adoptive and birth families which includes the assessment of their support needs and creation of support plans to ensure the needs of adopted children are able to be met. Under the general direction of the Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive social work service to children and their families, in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Agency and within statutory guidelines. To develop relationships with children, young people, families and professionals so as to best provide a high-quality service.

The work will be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager. The work will involve close collaboration with others in the team including social workers and other adoption workers. It will also involve close partnership working with other agencies and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

• To provide adoption support to individual families including direct work with children and families regarding promoting attachment, managing behaviour, life story work and staying in touch issues
• To undertake or contribute to assessments of need for adoption support where appropriate.
• Monitor and review support relating to the assessed needs of children and their families in accordance with agency procedures.
• Under the direction of the Team Manager to work within safeguarding procedures, to work with adopters in managing complex risks and providing safe care plans where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm
• Work restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families, and carers to achieve positive outcomes.
• Work with children and young people and their families to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
• Contribute to the undertaking of risk assessments regarding staying in touch arrangements and be involved with the re-negotiation of staying in touch arrangements, including provision of advice and facilitation where needed.
• To organise and assist in facilitating groups for children and young people as well as groups, workshops and webinars for adoptive parents
• Maintain and update case notes and write reports as required
• To mobilise a support service for adoptive families and ensure that plans are reviewed which include appropriate support packages for families.
• Liaise and network with other agencies involved in the provision of services for adopted people and their families, including co working with other professionals.
• To participate in training to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

Qualifications:

Substantial experience or qualification in child care, counselling, teaching, nursing, social work, youth work or similar.

Essential requirements

It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with service users.
• Able to plan, prioritise and time manage a complex workload.
• A high level of effective written and verbal communication and the ability to pass information accurately and concisely with a range of partners and service users, carers, and colleagues.
• Able to overcome resistance and to exercise assertiveness in appropriate situations when working with individuals, families, carers, and other agencies.
• Able to negotiate, challenge and manage conflict.
• Able to innovate and problem solve with the ability to identify appropriate social work interventions.
• Able to devise, implement review and evaluate service and support plans.
• Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
• Able to exercise individual judgement and consult where and when necessary.
• Able to be flexible, creative and use own initiative.
• Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
• Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
• Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
• Able to chair meetings and represent the Agency in a professional capacity.
• Able to develop self and others including mentoring lesser experienced workers.
• Able engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans and interventions.
• Knowledge of recent relevant professional development
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds, including adoption legislation, also relevant research in relation to adoption practice.
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email,
• Knowledge of current, trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to adoption.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• Knowledge of the challenges of working within a multi-agency environment
• Experience of working in a multi-agency setting
• Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
• Experience of working within and implementing a person centred/child focused approach.
• Experience of the use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
• Experience of