Adoption Social Worker – Care Planning and Family Finding Team
Purpose of the Role
To secure timely and effective permanence through adoption for children who cannot remain with their birth families. This role carries statutory responsibility for children from the point of Placement Order through to the granting of an Adoption Order, ensuring their welfare, safety, and emotional needs remain central throughout the process.
Key Responsibilities
Care Planning & Early Permanence
Track children with a potential plan for adoption and provide specialist advice by attending Care Planning Meetings.
Identify cases where Early Permanence may be appropriate, seek suitable families, and complete required documentation in partnership with the child’s allocated social worker.
Explore the viability of sibling placements at the earliest opportunity and make timely referrals for recruitment and assessment of sibling adopters.
Decision-Making & Family Finding
Contribute to Agency Decision Maker (ADM) Consultation Meetings by offering case-specific advice and gathering information for profiling.
Produce Early Alert Profiles promptly and initiate early family-finding activity.
Take full case responsibility for children following the granting of a Placement Order, including all Looked After Child statutory duties.
Direct Work With Children
Undertake meaningful direct work to prepare children for adoption and support their understanding of their life story.
Develop comprehensive Adoption Support Plans, identifying needs and recommending interventions in collaboration with Post-Adoption Support services.
Matching, Placement & Post-Placement Support
Identify potential adoptive families and oversee all processes and paperwork required to progress matches in a timely manner.
Work closely with internal recruitment teams and external agencies to secure suitable families.
Support adoptive placements and maintain statutory responsibilities until the Adoption Order is granted.
Recording, Documentation & Family Time
Maintain accurate, up-to-date records, ensuring completion of Adoption Files in accordance with Local Authority and Adoption Now requirements.
Compile Life Story Books and update Later Life Letters for each child.
Ensure arrangements for direct or indirect Family Time are in place and reviewed appropriately.
Where necessary, follow procedures for reversals of adoption plans, including completing full birth-parent assessments.
Professional Collaboration
Participate in regular supervision, keeping managers informed of progress and emerging issues in allocated and tracked cases.
Attend team meetings and contribute to service development (primarily based in Bolton).
Participate in the duty rota as required.
Support broader service activities including recruitment and assessment of adopters, and providing guidance and support to adoptive families.
Key Requirements
A recognised Social Work qualification.
Minimum 1 year post-qualifying experience (3 years preferred).
Strong knowledge of Looked After Children legislation, adoption regulations, and statutory processes.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with children of diverse ages and abilities about their past, present, and future.
Capacity to work autonomously, manage a demanding caseload, and prioritise effectively.
Commitment to reflective supervision, professional development, and contributing to the wider team.
Why Work With We Do Social Work?
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