Job summary
Social Worker - Permanence Support Team (Adopt Thames Valley)

Join Adopt Thames Valley's specialist Permanence Support Team and help make a lasting difference to the lives of adopted children and their families.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Social Worker with adoption experience to develop their expertise within a dedicated post-adoption support service. The team provides specialist support to adopters, adopted children, birth relatives and adults affected by adoption, helping families thrive and achieve positive long-term outcomes.

As a Social Worker, you will work closely with children, families and partner agencies to assess needs, provide targeted support and contribute to the development of high-quality permanence services. You will support Team Managers in maintaining excellent service standards, ensuring services are delivered in line with Adopt Thames Valley policies, procedures and children's rights principles.

Working within a highly supportive and experienced team, you will utilise your assessment, analytical and report-writing skills to help families access the support they need. You will also contribute to safeguarding responsibilities, service development and collaborative working across the region.

We are seeking a qualified Social Worker with at least three years' post-qualifying experience in adoption and/or family placement services. This role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge within adoption and permanence while making a meaningful difference to children's lives.

Main duties of the job
As a Social Worker within the Permanence Support Team, you will provide specialist post-adoption support to adopted children, adoptive families and others affected by adoption. You will undertake assessments, coordinate support services, contribute to safeguarding and help ensure children and families receive the guidance and support needed to achieve positive outcomes.

About us
Adopt Thames Valley (ATV) is a regional adoption agency hosted by Oxfordshire County Council and delivered in partnership with six neighbouring local authorities. Established in 2017, the service provides a comprehensive range of adoption and permanence services across the Thames Valley, supporting adopted children, adoptive families, birth relatives and adults affected by adoption.

The agency is committed to delivering high-quality, child-centred services that promote permanence, stability and positive lifelong outcomes. Through specialist teams and collaborative working, Adopt Thames Valley ensures families receive expert support throughout their adoption journey and beyond.

Job responsibilities
About Us
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the continued development of Adopt Thames Valley (ATV) Regional Adoption Agency. ATV launched in December 2017 and is the shared Adoption Service for Bracknell Forest, Oxfordshire, Reading Borough Council (Brighter Futures for Children), The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (Achieving for Children), Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council. The Regional Adoption Agency is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council and so your contract and work conditions will sit within Oxfordshire County Council.

About the Role
The Permanence Support Team is a specialist team providing post-order support to adopters, and their children, adults affected by adoption, and to birth families. The team is very friendly and supportive, as well as being hard-working and very committed to adoption work. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in adoption and permanence to further their career and specialism. You will be joining a supportive team of aspirational, creative and committed Social Workers who strive to provide the best possible outcomes for adopted children.

Your responsibilities will include:

• To assist the Team Managers in the operational management of the team, ensuring the highest standards of service are provided.
• To ensure that services to users are delivered and developed according to Adopt Thames Valley policies procedures and guidance.
• To ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way that maximises participation and reflects Childrens Rights in relation to services being provided and in the way that Children, Young People and Families are worked with.
• This post holder is responsible for ensuring that Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are adhered to and concerns are raised in accordance with these policies.

About you
Are you a passionate, qualified social worker with experience of adoption? Are you interested in different ways of working in this field? We are ideally seeking an Social Worker with at least three years post qualifying experience in adoption and with relevant work settings, such as within Childrens Services or Family Placement, and who has excellent assessment, analytical and report writing skills.The applicant will need to demonstrate that they have a good understanding of the needs of adoptive families, and that they are keen to develop their knowledge and skills further. The successful applicant also needs to be computer literate.Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Rewards and benefits

• Vivup benefits platform
• Vivup highfive recognition platform
• Cycle scheme (for eco-conscious commuters)
• Electric vehicle lease scheme
• Discounts at local retailers
• Salary finance options
• Up to 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays)
• A competitive 19.9% employer pension contribution rate

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact: rachel.willis@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Person Specification
General Requirements
Essential

• Please refer to job description above

Desirable

• Please refer to job description above

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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