Adoption Support Social Worker

This is an excellent opportunity to join the Regional Adoption Agency, Adoption East Midlands, and to make a positive contribution to supporting adopted children and young people and their families.

The post is within the Adoption Support Service, and we are looking for a suitably qualified and experienced Social Work England registered social worker who has at least 3 years post qualifying experience, with excellent interpersonal and assessment skills. You will need to evidence an awareness and understanding of the lifelong nature of adoption; the skills and attributes required to adopt as well as the on-going need for adoption support services throughout the life course for adoptive families caring for children who have a background of developmental trauma.

You will be aware that we work with a diverse population, and we strive to improve our services for Black children and families and other minority groups within our region.

You will be joining an established team of social workers within the Adoption Support Service who work across the Adoption East Midlands region (Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Derbyshire, and Derby City). As a worker, you will be instrumental in supporting families, from initial contact with the Agency to carrying out holistic assessments in discussion with the family and professionals to identify their needs to determine the most appropriate plan of support.

Alongside working with families where direct pieces of work are carried out with children/adoptive parents, you will also be involved in developing and supporting our programme of universal services which include information and resource sharing, co-delivering peer support opportunities and learning events.

You will be expected to contribute to improving outcomes for all our children and families and understand the concept of safeguarding children within adoption.

You will need to be highly organised, flexible, and able to build excellent interpersonal relationships with service users and colleagues alike. We have a supportive team environment, and you will have the opportunity for peer reflection as well as regular supervision.

The ethnicity of our social work team is not as diverse as we would like, and therefore we welcome applications from staff of all ethnic backgrounds. AEM has an active Global Majority Staff Support Group and staff are also supported to engage with the Black Workers Network within Nottinghamshire County Council.

It is essential that you are IT literate and ideally have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

The office base for this role will be Trent Bridge House in West Bridgford however AEM operate a hybrid working policy to meet the needs of the service. Given the regional nature of the role, a valid driving licence and access to a car is also essential (a taxi service will be provided where disability precludes this).

If you would like an informal chat, please contact team manager-Trescia Gallichan on 0115 8041081.

Appointment to this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Disabled applicants who meet the essential shortlisting requirements will be guaranteed an interview. A job share scheme is available for all full-time posts: both permanent and temporary, unless otherwise stated.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks.

Nottinghamshire County Council strives to ensure that it goes beyond the requirements of the Equalities Act and prides itself on being accredited as a Disability Confident Leader Organisation. Therefore, the County Council encourages applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, religion, belief, pregnancy and maternity status, age or sexual orientation.