Adoption Support Worker

This is not a Wiltshire Council vacancy therefore please contact Adoption West for further information.

Salary: £19,029 - £20,311 per annum (based on working 25 hours per week)

Closing date: Monday 14 April 2025

Hours: 25 hours per week

Interview date: Thursday 24 April 2025

Location: Covering Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, based in Gloucester alongside working from home.

Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency and registered Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Councils.  Adoption West provides a range of adoption services including:

• The recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters
• Family finding services for children requiring permanency via adoption 
• Post adoption support services
• Services to birth family and adopted adults 

This is an exciting time to join Adoption West as we build on the solid foundations already in place and our ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted. As part of an internal restructure, we are developing a regional Adoption Support Team and have two new support worker posts.  You will be joining an experienced team who is committed to developing excellent support services for adopted children and their families across the region .

Main Duties 

The Support Worker post provides essential support to the Adoption Service activity. The tasks you will undertake includes letter box and direct contact between adoptive families and birth families, direct work with children and young people, support to birth parents with letter writing, life-story work, direct work with adoptive families, organising events for adopters and children and the development of best practice. 

You will need: 

• A levels / National Diploma or equivalent experience/skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and work on own initiative against deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven negotiation skills especially when working with customers who may be upset and stressed.
• Self-sufficient in planning and organising own work, including recording, storing and retrieving required data and information.
• An awareness of Government initiatives in relation to Adoption best practice and procedures. 
• To be an active team player by contributing to the development of the service, ensuring the customer is always at the centre of such developments.
• Good I.T. skills.
• Fluent in English.
• A driving licence and use of a vehicle as travelling around the region is required.

Adoption West:

• is an organisation with a wealth of experience and has a learning culture, committed to enabling the post holder to grow and develop in their role. 
• provides support through supervision and training. 
• offers flexible working arrangements, including job shares.
• provides a Local Government Pension Scheme and access to the Child Care vouchers scheme

If you have the experience, skills, knowledge and enthusiasm we are seeking and are looking for a new challenge then we look forward to hearing from you.

For an informal discussion contact;

Rebecca Kay Deputy Team Manager Rebecca.kay@adoptionwest.co.uk or Anjali Gupta Team Manager anjali.gupta@adoptionwest.co.uk 

Adoption West Behaviour Principals and Values:

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the Behaviour Principals and Values during the interviewing process.

Role Description