Social Worker (Adopt South)

We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Social Worker to be part of our Adoption Assessment and Support team, who offer a holistic approach to helping families and children when they have challenges and need our support. You could help us transform the lives of adopted children and young people.

This is a part time role working 30 hours per week.

About Adopt South

Adopt South is a regional adoption agency, launched in April 2019. The agency is formed through the partnership between Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, with support from voluntary adoption agencies, Adoption UK, Barnardo’s and PACT.

The Role

Based at Glen House in Swanwick, you will work directly with families to positively transform the lives of adopted children. Your passion, enthusiasm and collaborative style will play a crucial role in ensuring successful outcomes for our parent(s) and children.

Having extensive experience and strong assessment skills, you will meet with families to complete Suitable To Adopt Report Assessments, deliver robust support plans, as well as development work and training of prospective adopters

Your experience and skills will also contribute to our training and workshop objectives, peer to peer support groups and family fun events.

This varied role is a fantastic opportunity for a social worker professional with three years' experience, who has empathy and creative thinking. We will support your learning and development, so you will be confident in introducing innovative therapeutic approaches and ideas that support families and our adoptive community.

The ideal candidate

You will need to have/be

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work
• Registration with Social Work England
• Experience of working with children and families in social work setting
• Concise verbal and written communication skills
• Mediation and negotiation skills
• Ability to assess risks, needs, and to analyse information and recognise problems
• Understand equalities issues in social work practice and principals of safety, dignity and empowerment
• Understand philosophies, professional social work issues and legal frameworks
• Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording
• Highly organised and able to manage time and conflicting demands effectively
• Willing to learn and develop in the role, with ongoing training and personal development

• Able to be flexible with working arrangements to meet the operational requirements of the post

Please ensure that you download and read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement on your application.

Informal Enquiries

If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact - Rebecca Bowles or Vicky Moore Team Manager, please email Rebecca.Bowles@hants.gov.uk or Vicky.Moore@hants.gov.uk with your contact number and availability for informal discussion.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Our Recruitment process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

Safeguarding

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.