This role has a starting salary of £23,613 per annum, based on a 21.6 hour working week and Pro Rata to £39,355 for full time working.

This is a fixed term contract opportunity lasting until January 2025 to provide maternity cover.

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 or Annual leave allowance (for bank)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• 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
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave

Who We are:

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.

This is an opportunity to join a supportive and committed team of adoption professionals, with the added benefit of development opportunities within the team locally, but also more widely within our regional structure. To learn more about us and our work please visit our website: www.adoptionsoutheast.org.uk

ASE currently operates a 'hub and spoke' model, meaning that in addition to a central hub in Lewes, East Sussex, we maintain offices in each local authority. Staff are all employed on local terms and conditions, and in this instance, the successful applicant would be employed by Surrey County Council with a base at Quadrant Court in Woking

About The Role:

You would regularly travel to visit adopting families across our region, and occasionally beyond this, as required. Administrative work associated with the role could be completed using hybrid working arrangements, from offices or home as preferred, but with an expectation that you attend the office on an occasional basis for team meetings or as determined by the team manager.

As a social worker in the team you would hold a varied caseload, including assessment of prospective adopters from stage 2 to adoption order. The team also undertakes family finding and provides adoption support following placement and the making of adoption orders, which you may support with.

To be shortlisted for interview your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence:

• That you are a qualified social worker
• Your registration with Social Work England
• Your sound knowledge of social work practice and legislation
• Your strong commitment to securing permanency for children through adoption
• Your use of research and evidence-based practice
• Your commitment to inclusive practice
• Your ability to work autonomously
• Hold a full UK driving licence

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 14th of Dec 2023 and interviews will take place on the 21st December 2023 at our office in Woking.

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.

Contact Details

To learn more about us, visit our website: www.adoptionsoutheast.org.uk or if you would like to have an informal chat about the role please contact: Suzanne Chambers Service Manager, or Christina Oikonomou Team Manager on 01932 79434

Our Commitment

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