Adoption Social Worker or Senior Social Worker

About the role

Are you an experienced and confident social worker who is passionate about achieving the very best outcomes for children through permanence and adoption? We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Social Worker to join our dedicated and ambitious Adoption Service within our Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA). You will join a skilled, motivated and reflective team that works tirelessly to place children at the centre of everything we do. The service is proud to be building on the progress that achieved an Ofsted judgement of GOOD with outstanding features in February 2025, and you will play an important role in sustaining and strengthening this standard.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will hold a more complex caseload, lead high-quality assessments and interventions, and provide professional support, guidance and mentoring to less experienced colleagues. This is a busy, rewarding and influential role for someone who is committed to excellence in adoption practice and values collaborative, relationship-based working.

• Manage and progress a complex caseload of adoption-related work, including assessment, planning and intervention, working independently while recognising when to seek advice or second opinions.
• Undertake in-depth, analytical and timely assessments of prospective adopters, taking account of risk, need, parental capacity and capacity to change.
• Work directly with children, young people and families using age- and developmentally-appropriate approaches, ensuring children’s voices are heard and clearly reflected in analysis and planning.
• Apply and model Signs of Safety, relational and trauma-informed practice to support families, manage risk and promote positive outcomes for children.
• Prepare high-quality reports and presentations for adoption panel and court, and attend hearings as required, presenting evidence clearly and professionally.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality case recording in line with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Work collaboratively with adopters, colleagues, managers and multi-agency partners to deliver coherent, child-centred plans.
• Support, mentor and role model best practice to less experienced social workers, including offering guidance, co-working and reflective learning opportunities.
• Contribute to service development, quality assurance and learning within the Adoption team and wider organisation.

You have a degree in Social Work, a valid Social Work England Registration, at least 3 years of post-qualification experience, a driving licence and car.

• You have a clear understanding of the lifelong impact of early experiences and the long-term needs of adopted children and young people. You also have extensive post-qualification experience in children and families social work within a statutory or voluntary setting, including managing complex work.
• You can demonstrate sound knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework for adoption, permanence and family court proceedings.
• You have a strong understanding and application of attachment theory, therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed approaches in adoption practice.
• Experience of completing adoption-related assessments (ideally PARs) or transferable assessment experience relevant to adoption.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality analytical reports and present confidently in formal settings.
• Experience or training in approaches such as Signs of Safety, Systemic Practice, Trauma-Informed Practice or the Secure Base Model will be beneficial, though not essential.

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is committed to Adapting Adoption to the Modern World and works within a strong Relational Practice framework. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate.

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do. We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £4,000
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• Retention bonus payments for established personnel
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health pension protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.