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. As a sessional adoption social worker, you will work on a flexible, task‑based basis to:
* 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
You’ll be supported by a dedicated team manager and provided with clear guidance, templates, and supervision as needed.
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). The role requires compliance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards. The post holder must at all times carry out responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Social Work England Code of Practice.
Responsibilities
* Undertake comprehensive, evidence‑based assessments of prospective adopters using the Prospective Adopter Report (PAR) format.
* Prepare and present PARs to the Adoption Panel.
* Complete matching assessments and prepare matching reports and Adoption Support Plans where adopters are being approved for a specific child.
* Undertake non‑agency adoption assessments (e.g. step‑parent adoptions) and prepare Annex A reports for court in line with statutory guidance.
* 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.
* Commit to continuous improvement.
* Identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.
* Take responsibility for improving practice through professional development.
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
* Participate in training and development activities to ensure up‑to‑date knowledge and skills.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* 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.
* 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 the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a relational approach.
* Ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve conflict.
* Ability to maintain accurate service user records and follow policy and procedure.
* Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
* Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
* Ability to make proactive use of supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
* 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.
* Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups and communities.
* Understanding of relevant legislation in adoption and child care appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds.
* Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on adoptive families e.g. separation, loss, grief, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence.
* Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
* Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.
* Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
* Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
Experience
* Experience of implementing a person centred/child focused approach.
* Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
* Experience of advocacy and user involvement.
* Experience of using initiative and a commitment to developing services.
* Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
* Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.
* Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.
* Experience of using supervision effectively.
* Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory child care setting (fieldwork).
* Experience of devising, implementing and reviewing support plans.
Behavioural and other characteristics
* Possession of a full current driving licence.
* Of working with adoptive families.
* Of completing PARs and presenting to adoption panels.
* Of preparing Annex A reports.
Payments and benefits
* £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
If you’re passionate about adoption and want to make a meaningful difference in children’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.
To find out more, please contact Claire Lomas 0113 5350908 or Heather Pipe 0113 3783401.
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 visa route 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.
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