Social Worker - Adoption

at  Northamptonshire Childrens Trust

About the role
Are you an experienced social worker that’s passionate and determined to ensure children, young people and their families are at the heart of everything you do?
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our passionate and committed Adoption team delivering high quality effective adoption services in line with the modernising adoption agenda.
As a social worker within our Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA), you will be joining a motivated and highly skilled team who work hard every day to get the best outcomes for children and their families and build on the progress already made in achieving the Ofsted judgement of GOOD in February 2022.
It’s a busy and exciting role where you will be recruiting, training and assessing prospective adoptive applications and supporting adoptive families through to the final adoption hearing. You will be part of a busy, supportive county-wide team with a learning culture and high standards.
You will be expected to invest in the life of the team and develop working relationships which are based on collaborative and supportive methods of working, respecting others’ strengths, celebrating differences and seeking solutions.
We welcome the opportunity to speak to any interested candidates so please feel free to email: Lorraine.Taverner@nctrust.co.uk and they can agree a mutually agreeable time to call you.

What will you be doing?

• Undertake succinct, timely and thorough Assessments of prospective applicants.
• Engage and work directly with parents/ carers and children/ young people, using age and stage appropriate methods to inform the assessment and planning process, to hear their views and respond supportively.
• Ensure all information and reports relevant to work carried out is recorded, updated and completed in an efficient and timely manner and according to Directorate/legislative policies and procedures so that decisions made and acted upon are fully evidenced and provide sufficiently for audit, court or any other legitimate purpose.
• Attend adoption panel and court hearings as appropriate, to relevant cases, representing our children, adopters and adoption service professionally.
• Work collaboratively as an adoption team member with applicants, adopters, colleagues, other professionals and services, to achieve positive working relationships and outcomes for children.

About you

• You understand the lifelong impact of children’s early life experiences and their long-term resulting needs.
• You understand the legal framework relating to adoption and have knowledge and experience of therapeutic parenting, attachment theory and the application of these to adoption issues in working with families and children.
• You are an excellent communication both verbal and written skills
• You have experience of undertaking assessments of children and families
• You have a degree in Social Work, a valid Social Work England Registration, at least 2 years of post-qualification experience, a driving licence and car.

We are looking for someone who ideally has experience of completing PAR Assessments or has adoption related experience from their work with children. Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is committed to Adapting Adoption to the Modern World and have a Relational Practice Approach. The pillars that empower best practice include Trauma Informed Approach, Systemic Practice, and Signs of Safety. Post qualification and training in related methodologies and tools including using the Secure Base Model in assessments will be beneficial but not essential.
About us
At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.
Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be.
We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed.
At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.
Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.
Our benefits
We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £4,000
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

• Undertake succinct, timely and thorough Assessments of prospective applicants.
• Engage and work directly with parents/ carers and children/ young people, using age and stage appropriate methods to inform the assessment and planning process, to hear their views and respond supportively.
• Ensure all information and reports relevant to work carried out is recorded, updated and completed in an efficient and timely manner and according to Directorate/legislative policies and procedures so that decisions made and acted upon are fully evidenced and provide sufficiently for audit, court or any other legitimate purpose.
• Attend adoption panel and court hearings as appropriate, to relevant cases, representing our children, adopters and adoption service professionally.
• Work collaboratively as an adoption team member with applicants, adopters, colleagues, other professionals and services, to achieve positive working relationships and outcomes for children