Recruitment and Assessment Social Worker (Casual)
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Job title: Recruitment and Assessment Social Worker Casual. Salary: £2,500 per completed PAR | £1,500 per completed non‑agency (Annex A) assessment. Hours: Casual. Contract: Casual / Sessional. Location: Flexible / Remote.
About the Role
Are you a qualified social worker with a passion for supporting families through life‑changing journeys? We’re looking for skilled and compassionate professionals to join our pool of sessional adoption assessors.
Responsibilities
* Undertake comprehensive assessments of prospective adopters and complete Prospective Adopter Reports (PARs)
* Present assessments to the adoption panel
* Assess matches between children and adopters, preparing matching reports and adoption support plans
* Present matching cases to panel where adopters are being approved for a specific child
* Complete Annex A assessments for non‑agency adoptions (e.g. step‑parent adoptions) for court submission
* Provide written and verbal reports that are concise, analytical, and suitable for legal and panel scrutiny
* Devise and implement support plans tailored to the assessed needs of adopters and their families
* Monitor and review support plans and placements in accordance with agency procedures
* Undertake annual reviews of approved adopters as required
* Undertake direct work with children where required
* Work in partnership with other professionals and agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to care planning and safeguarding
* Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date case records using the agency’s information systems
* Adhere to Leeds City Council’s policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and safeguarding
* Maintain registration with Social Work England and uphold professional standards
* Participate in supervision, training, and development activities to ensure continuous professional development
* Attend sessional worker briefings and development days as appropriate
* Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures
What We’re Looking For
* Qualified social workers registered with Social Work England
* Minimum 12 months post‑qualification experience in children’s social care
* Strong assessment, analysis, and report‑writing skills
* Experience in adoption work (preferred but not essential)
* Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
What We Offer
* £2,500 per completed PAR
* £1,500 per completed non‑agency (Annex A) assessment
* Flexible working arrangements
* Access to training and development opportunities
* Supportive and collaborative team environment
Contact Information
To find out more, please contact Claire Lomas 0113 5350908 or Heather Pipe 0113 3783401.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans, as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care‑experienced people.
Right to Work in the UK
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.
Job Purpose
Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality, child‑focused adoption service on a sessional basis. This includes undertaking assessments of prospective adopters, preparing reports for adoption panel and court, supporting matching processes, and completing non‑agency adoption assessments (e.g. step‑parent adoptions).
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
Essential Requirements
* Hold a social work qualification
* Registered with Social Work England
* Demonstrated experience of at least 12 months post‑qualification in statutory child care
Skills
* Ability to plan, prioritise, and manage workload independently
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies
* Strong analytical, assessment, and report‑writing skills
* Ability to work flexibly and respond to changing demands
* Ability to devise and implement support plans
* Ability to assess needs using a relational approach
* Ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve conflict
* Ability to maintain accurate service‑user records following policy and procedure
* Ability to record, evidence and communicate using technology
* Ability to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult appropriately
* Use of supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches
* Ability to chair routine or less complex meetings
Knowledge
* Appropriate social work professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent)
* Registration with Social Work England
* Understanding of theories and models for social work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities
* Relevant legislation in adoption and child care
* Awareness of factors affecting adoptive families (separation, loss, grief, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence)
* Understanding of roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies
* Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and email
* Understanding of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers
* Awareness of safeguarding issues for vulnerable people
* Understanding of diversity issues within local communities
Experience
* Experience implementing a person centred/child focused approach
* Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems
* Advocacy and user involvement
* Using initiative and commitment to developing services
* Reflective practice techniques to inform decision making and planning
* Producing written records and reports to a high standard with suitable language
* Information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments
* Minimum 12 months post‑qualification experience in statutory child care (fieldwork)
* Devising, implementing and reviewing support plans
Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics
* Committed to continuous improvement
* Apply understanding of diversity in practice
* Support health & safety responsibilities
* Improve practice through professional development
* Embrace Leeds City Council values, behaviours and codes of conduct
* Deliver the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
* Understand and observe Council policies and procedures
* Take responsibility for duties under Health, Safety and Wellbeing policies
* Participate in training and development activities
* Support difference and ensure equality for all, upholding diversity and equality
* Report incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and abuse appropriately
Desirable Requirements
* Possession of a full current driving licence
* Knowledge of the range of adoption services available to families
* Experience working with adoptive families
* Experience completing PARs and presenting to adoption panels
* Experience preparing Annex A reports
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