This is not a Wiltshire Council vacancy; please contact Adoption West for further information.
Salary: £14,532 - £15,511 per annum plus 8% market supplement until 31st March 2026
Closing date: Monday 01 September 2025
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Part time 18.5 hours per week
Interview date: Tuesday 09 September 2025
Location: Flexible. An office base in one of the offices within the Adoption West region (Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge) and 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.
We have a vacancy for a part-time Support Worker in the Birth Links team. Although the team covers the whole Adoption West region, this post will have a caseload of service users who live in the Gloucestershire area.
Main Duties
Birth Links provides independent 1:1 support and group work to birth relatives and adopted adults. The tasks include:
* Visiting birth relatives in their own homes, providing emotional support, and clarifying information about the adoption process
* Supporting birth parents to write a later life letter for their child
* Supporting birth parents to meet with the adopters of their child
* Liaising with children's social workers and letterbox support workers regarding contact plans
* Running birth parent groups and signposting to other services
You Will Need
* A levels / National Diploma or equivalent experience/skills
* Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently against deadlines
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Proven negotiation skills, especially with upset or stressed service users
* Ability to engage service users with complex needs who may struggle to attend appointments
* Self-sufficient in planning and organizing own work, including data recording and retrieval
* An awareness of government initiatives related to adoption best practices and procedures
* Active team participation and contribution to service development
* Good IT skills
* Fluent in English
* A driving licence and use of a vehicle, as travel around the region is required
About Adoption West
* An organization with extensive experience and a learning culture, committed to staff development
* Supports employees through supervision and training
* Offers flexible working arrangements, including job shares
* Provides a Local Government Pension Scheme and access to Child Care vouchers
If you have the necessary experience, skills, and enthusiasm, and are seeking a new challenge, we look forward to hearing from you.
Additional Information
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires an Enhanced DBS check before appointment.
Employees must maintain confidentiality at all times.
All candidates are assessed against the Behaviour Principles and Values during the interview process.
Adoption West Behaviour Principles and Values
All candidates are assessed against these principles during the interview process.
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