Job Title: Adoption Advisor
Salary: C1 £27,711 - £30,060
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: The base can be either Leeds/Bradford/ Huddersfield and will involve some working from home.
One Adoption West Yorkshire has an exciting opportunity to join the Regional Adoption Agency as an Adoption Advisor.
As an Adoption Advisor, you thrive on making a positive impact to the lives of children and families. You will be responsible for supporting the recruitment of adopters from initial enquiry, as well as supporting the finding of families for children and the provision of adoption support. This role will support children to maintain connections with their birth family, support with events such as fun days and deliver support groups for children and adopters.
Being an adoption advisor is a rewarding yet challenging role; it about the incredible opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on a child's life and to support families through their adoption journey.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our and ambitions.
About you
As an Adoption Advisor, you will bring to the role:
1. Experience of working with children and families
2. Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, including written and verbal skills
3. Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
4. Skills that will assist in the preparation and delivery of events, training and support programmes
5. Ability to work under pressure and be reliable, flexible, and dependable.
About the role
As our next Adoption Advisor, you will play a crucial role in supporting the recruitment of adopters, ensuring compliance with safeguarding procedures, and maintaining and updating systems, records, and databases. You will also assist in the preparation and delivery of events and support programmes for those impacted by adoption. The role includes supporting children to maintain connections with birth family and supporting family finding for children. The role is integral to our One Adoption West Yorkshire team, where you will contribute to and learn from the best practices in adopter recruitment, family finding for children, and delivering adoption support services.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
6. A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
7. Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
8. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
9. Continuing professional development opportunities
10. A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
Interviews will take place on: 3rd October 2025
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact:
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
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.
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 for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Special conditions this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Job Purpose:
To be responsible for supporting the recruitment of adopters from initial enquiry to application. Adoption advisors also have a role in supporting the finding of families for children and the provision of adoption support. There will be a need to write reports, maintain and update systems, records and databases and deliver excellent customer service at all times.
Responsibilities
11. Provide a timely, positive and professional response to initial enquiries received from prospective adopters taking initial information, booking home visits and updating systems and databases.
12. Take a positive customer focussed response to initial enquiries and ensure every effort is made to make contact with prospective adopters within the time limit stipulated.
13. Arrange and conduct, initial home visits to prospective adopters within agreed timescales.
14. Ensure that initial home visit reports are written up and completed within 48 hours and of a high standard.
15. Prepare reports, maintain and update systems, records and databases and deliver excellent customer service at all times.
16. Ensure all documentation including consents to statutory checks are completed without delay.
17. Ensure compliance with safeguarding procedures and make clear that the safeguarding of children and the promotion of their welfare is given absolute priority in all recruitment, family finding and support activities.
18. Contribute to and learn from the best practice in adopter recruitment, family finding for children and delivering adoption support services.
19. Support the marketing and local area teams with community based recruitment activity and support adoption events where necessary.
20. Keep performance records and written details/records of all contacts and contact activity, including all visits and to update records and database systems.
21. Responsible for the interface with administrative and IT systems and to ensure that existing systems are maintained, developed and responsive to the smooth and efficient running of the Adoption Service.
22. Assist in the preparation and delivery of training and support programmes for those impacted by adoption.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications:
Full and valid driving licence, GCSE (or equivalent) 5 A-C including English and Mathematics
Essential Requirements: Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
Skills Required
23. Able to communicate effectively with people at all levels including written and verbal skills
24. Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
25. Able to work under minimal supervision, to make decisions and act on own initiative
26. Able and be prepared to seek advice where necessary
27. Reliable, flexible, dependable and able to work under pressure
28. Able to prepare clear, accurate and concise reports, letters and memos
29. Able and willing to work flexibly including weekend, early morning and evening work as necessary and undertake tasks such as attending initial visits, recruitment, support groups and PR events, meetings and training.
30. Able to evidence an understanding and practical application of the use of IT and electronic communications, including the use of Microsoft Office.
31. Aware of childcare legislation including The Adoption Services National Minimum Standards.
32. Aware of current developments affecting the provision of children services from a legal, political and social policy context
33. Knowledge of child protection issues.
34. Understand the work of other key agencies and links to social work practice
35. Significant general experience within a customer focused service.
36. Experience of working in/with social services, youth services, welfare or care environment
37. Demonstrate customer relationship experience
38. Experience of working within a range of diverse communities.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
39. Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
40. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
41. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
42. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
43. Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
44. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
45. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
46. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
47. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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