Adoption Social Worker

This part-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £24,557 per annum based on a 21.60 hour working week, pro-rata to £40,929.

We are excited to be hiring a new Social Worker to join our fantastic Recruitment, Assessment and Placement Team based in Woking. This is an opportunity to join a supportive and committed team of adoption professionals, with the added benefit of development opportunities.

As a team we apply hybrid working models, meaning that although you would have an administrative base in Woking, we work largely remotely, making best use of technology but with the option to touch base at any of our offices across the region. Regular team meetings are conducted both online and in person at a central base.

Rewards and Benefits:

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Annual leave allowance (for bank) or remove for term time
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

Adoption Southeast

Adoption Southeast (ASE) is a regional adoption agency delivering adoption services on behalf of 4 local authorities (Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove) under a partnership agreement. Although our staff are all employed by the partner local authorities we exist as a separate organisation, with our own ASE management structure. This vacancy is hosted by Surrey County Council, whose terms and conditions of employment would apply.

ASE works across the combined footprint of the 4 local authorities, from the London borders in the North, down to the South Coast. We place children in adoptive families and support the families throughout the early stages and during the children's growing up years, always recognising that as well as joy, adopting brings challenges.

Our Recruitment, Assessment and Placement Team, which consists of Social Workers and Managers employed by all 4 local authorities, works in the Northern half of the region, assessing potential adopters and remaining with them during their adoption journey, ending at adoption order. We are currently looking for an energetic and committed social worker to join the team to help us secure permanency for over 100 children a year.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for interview, your CV and personal statement must evidence:

• You are a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England
• Sound practice skills and experience of working in one or more of the following social work fields: adoption, fostering or Looked After Children
• Your reasons for applying for this role and your thoughts about how you could add value to our team
• Your self-assessment of your development needs if appointed to this role
• Your commitment to inclusive practice in the context of working with adopting families
• Your capacity to undertake collaborative work with colleagues and other agencies
• Your capacity for managing a full caseload
• Capacity for completing and recording complex assessments, completed within national timescales

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Social Workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

If you are a qualified Social Worker and you share our commitment to children and families, we would be delighted to hear from you!

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 10th November 2024 with interviews taking place week commencing 18th November 2024.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.