R2R103778 - Adoption Panel Advisor - Permanent in Southend-on-Sea

Your New Organisation Children Services - OFSTED RATING 2024 – GOOD. Many workers have chosen to both live and work in Southend. They have seen positive cultural changes in the organisation and describe Southend as not just being a good place to live but now also a good place to work. Social workers speak with warmth and knowledge about the children and families they support.

CPD: The training and development offered in Southend is comprehensive and equips staff effectively to deliver their work with children and families.

LEADERS INPUT: Leaders understand their local communities and have used this knowledge strategically and effectively to meet children’s needs. Our vision is A Southend Where All Children Achieve Success. By joining Southend City Council as a Panel Advisor, you will be key in making our vision a reality for all children.

You will be joining a service where we demonstrate with pride that:

• All paths lead back to the child.
• We spend time getting to know each child and their story.
• We do what we say we're going to do.
• We work with the whole family.
• No matter what, we aim to make things better.

You will provide support to work to the highest standard using our model of practice, Restorative Practice, to deliver the vision. You will access a professional social work development offer that has been designed by social workers, whatever stage you are at in your career. You will be given regular restorative supervision and separate supervision focussing on development and evidencing your SWE registration. We want everyone to take the lead in an area of interest for your team, and you will explore this with your line manager.

Your new role: Southend Council are looking to appoint a permanent, full-time, Adoption Panel Advisor. The principal role of the panel advisor is to provide professional advice to Adoption Panels, ensuring that the arrangements for panel are coordinated in advance, run smoothly on the day, and that follow‑up actions and reports happen as required. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the central list provides sufficient panel members to meet the needs of the family placement work.

To oversee processes for the approval of foster carers and early permanence decisions, as well as promoting and supporting a range of family placement arrangements within Children’s Services, working in partnership with colleagues internally and externally. The successful candidate will establish systems/best practice to support the decision‑making process, including training and development in line with adoption regulations and National Minimum Standards, ensuring that the LA achieves timely permanence for children in care across the full range of legal options, including adoption, special guardianship, residence orders, family and friends and permanent/long‑term foster care.

Leading and working closely in collaboration with the Head of Service, Service Managers, Team Managers, Independent Reviewing Officers, and Children’s Social Workers to develop and maintain relevant management information systems, and to lead on the analysis and reporting of practice/business activities linked to permanency and fostering panel. They will coordinate and attend permanency panel, permanency planning meetings and case track meetings, advising on the best way to achieve the most appropriate outcomes for children. The position is hybrid working, depending on the need for on site panel meetings.

What you'll need to succeed: To be shortlisted for this position, you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. It is essential that you have extensive adoption experience along with panel adviser knowledge. You are required to have 2+ years performance/quality assurance experience as well as knowledge of legislation and adoption regulations gained within a social services context. Previous experience (preferably in a management capacity) of working with children and families and policy development. Experience of Quality Audit processes and their application within a service‑focussed environment. Ability to relate and communicate effectively verbally and in writing, with a wide range of audiences, including service users, professional staff and senior managers in various agencies.

What you'll get in return: When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check. The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.