Adoption Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - One Adoption Agency in Leeds

Kirklees Council are advertising this role on behalf of One Adoption Agency. One Adoption West Yorkshire is a regional adoption agency, delivering adoption services on behalf of the five local authorities in West Yorkshire. We are currently seeking a Social Worker to join our Family Finding team, based in Leeds.

About the role

In this role, you will work closely with children, foster carers and Leeds Local Authority to identify suitable adoptive families for children. Your responsibilities will include family finding for children, coordinating family finding activities, and ensuring that matches are well-informed and in the best interests of the child. You will also provide ongoing support to both children and adopters during the transition and post-placement period, helping to ensure stability and positive outcomes. The role will be Leeds based, with work taking place alongside Leeds Local Authority. It will involve some travel within the Leeds area and some working from home. The post is open to qualified Social Workers and Senior Social Workers. Appointment at Senior Social Worker level is subject to evidence of successfully passing a relevant progression process.

About you

You will be a qualified Social Worker with some post qualifying experience and an interest in adoption. You will have relevant knowledge and skills in relation to working in Children’s Services or Adoption. You will be motivated to achieve permanence for children via adoption and have excellent communication and written skills as well as being a team player. You will have the ability to understand the needs of and work collaboratively with children, families and other key stakeholders within the area of adoption. You will be registered with Social Work England (SWE).

About One Adoption West Yorkshire

We pride ourselves on delivering a high-quality, timely, flexible, and responsive adoption service. Our core aims are to:

• Move children into adoptive families without delay
• Provide support for families at every stage of the adoption journey
• Ensure children receive high-quality care, stability, and a sense of belonging
• Ensure all voices including children, adoptive families, birth parents, and adopted adults are heard and influence decisions and service development

You will be joining a supportive team with regular supervision and opportunities for ongoing development.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

For more information about our benefits please see the benefits section of our jobs page.

If you are an exceptional, motivated, dedicated practitioner; able to demonstrate a proven experience of effectively undertaking social work then we would like you to apply to become part of our team. We are looking for a practitioner who brings fresh ideas and can positively influence service delivery. In return you will gain the opportunity to develop your professional skills and your career in a challenging but supportive environment.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. For an informal discussion about the post please contact Jenna Dickinson, Team Manager on 0113 3781641, Laura Sully, Team Manager on 0113 3785148 or Katie Robinson, Service Delivery Manager on 0113 5350864. Interviews will take place at Merrion House, Leeds date to be confirmed.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children or Adults barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

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. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose: To undertake family finding for children requiring adoption. To be responsible for a caseload of adoptive families which includes the assessment, support and training of those adoptive families to ensure they care properly for children placed with them. To provide counselling to adoptive and birth families and adopted adults where required. Under the general direction of a 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. This may include elements of co-working more challenging/complex casework. The post holder must at all times carry out the responsibilities within the Agency’s Policies and Procedures, and also within the Social Work England Code of Practice.

Responsibilities:

• To family find for children and provide specialist consultation, guidance and advice to fieldwork colleagues on matters relating to adoption.
• Use a range of family finding methodologies to find adoptive families for children.
• Responsible for a caseload of adoptive families/birth parents or adopted adults and undertake assessments of adopters and their families using an evidenced based and child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
• Responsibilities include the recruitment, assessment, support, training and counselling of adoptive families and birth relatives and adopted adults.
• On the basis of an analysis of adoptive parents’ strengths and vulnerabilities, devise and implement a support plan which correspond to the assessed needs of adopters their families in line with procedures.
• Responsible for analysing information and risks to support the ongoing needs of adopters, their families to promote the wellbeing of children placed with them.
• Monitor and review support relating to the assessed needs of children and their families in accordance with agency procedures.
• Plan and commission services and support for children, young people, and their families.
• Undertake annual reviews of adoptive parents as required.
• Work in partnership in a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the adoptive family with other professionals to ensure the coordinated implementation of care plans for children placed with adopters.
• Work within safeguarding procedures, to work with adoptive families in managing risks in complex situations and providing safe care plans where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
• Participate in the recruitment of potential adoptive parents and identify training needs of adoptive families and deliver training as required.
• Take part in recruitment events, activities and open days/evenings to promote the work of the service and to recruit potential adopters.
• Organise and lead adoption support group meetings on a regular basis.
• Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.
• 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, families, and carers to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
• Undertake risk assessments regarding contact arrangements and be responsible for the re-negotiation of contact arrangements.
• Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records, prepare reports as required and if required, give evidence in court in relation to care or adoption proceedings.
• Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
• Be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the agency and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.
• Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• Responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures.
• Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
• Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
• Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant regional forums and convene and chair multi-agency meetings in line with procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
• Work to and within the prescribed capabilities framework.
• Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Carry out the Practice Educator Level 1 role and supervise students.
• Be aware of and comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and One Adoption policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Child Protection, Confidentiality, Data Protection, Health, Safety and Security, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Actively promote and support One Adoption’s, Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.
• Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits, training, groups or meetings.

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.

Qualifications:

The post requires an appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent). You should be registered with Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain registration. Practice Educator Level 1 on appointment and to undertake Practice Educator Level 2 within an agreed time period.

Essential Requirement:

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 essential requirements.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with users.
• Able to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
• Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately, and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers, and colleagues.
• Able to engage individuals, families, carers, and workers from other agencies.
• Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
• Able to devise and implement service and support plans.
• Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
• 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 make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
• Able to chair routine or less complex meetings.
• Able to work and engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans and interventions.
• Able to prepare reports and Communications Skills

Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds, including adoption legislation. 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. Completion of NQSW programme or the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). Experience of working within and implementing a person centred/child focused approach. Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems. Experience of advocacy and user involvement. Experience of using initiative and a commitment to develop services. Experience of use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning. Experience of producing records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function. Experience of the application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments. Experience of using supervision effectively. Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory setting. Experience of devising, implementing, and reviewing support plans.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies. Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities. Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable Requirements:

Possession of a full current driving licence. Knowledge of consolidation of learning for specialist practice. Experience of working with a wide range of Service user groups. Experience of direct work with children and young people. Experience of counselling. Experience of group work. Experience of working with adoptive families.