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Candidates, please note that this is not a North Somerset Council vacancy and as such all correspondence must be made directly to Adoption West. The successful applicant will not be employed by North Somerset Council.

Location: Flexible. An office base in one of the offices within the Adoption West region (Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge) and working from home.

1 full time (37hrs) and 1 part time (30 hrs) posts available.

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. As part of an internal restructure, we are developing a regional Adoption Support Team and have two new support worker posts. You will be joining an experienced team who is committed to developing excellent support services for adopted children and their families across the region .

We are open to discussions about possible part time arrangements with a minimum of 18.5 hours.

Main Duties

The Support Worker post provides essential support to the Adoption Service activity. The tasks you will undertake includes letter box and direct contact between adoptive families and birth families, direct work with children and young people, support to birth parents with letter writing, life-story work, direct work with adoptive families and the development of best practice.

You will need:

• A levels / National Diploma or equivalent experience/skills.

• Ability to prioritise tasks and work on own initiative against deadlines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proven negotiation skills especially when working with customers who may be upset and stressed.

• Self-sufficient in planning and organising own work, including recording, storing and retrieving required data and information.

• An awareness of Government initiatives in relation to Adoption best practice and procedures.

• To be an active team player by contributing to the development of the service, ensuring the customer is always at the centre of such developments.

• Good I.T. skills.

• Fluent in English.

• A driving licence and use of a vehicle as travelling around the region is required.

Find out more and apply

Adoption West:

• is an organisation with a wealth of experience and has a learning culture, committed to enabling the post holder to grow and develop in their role.

• provides support through supervision and training.

• offers flexible working arrangements, including job shares.

• provides a Local Government Pension Scheme and access to the Child Care vouchers scheme

If you have the experience, skills, knowledge and enthusiasm we are seeking and are looking for a new challenge then we look forward to hearing from you.

Interview date will be confirmed after shortlisting.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will require an Enhanced DBS check before appointment can be confirmed.

Confidentiality: Employees are expected to maintain the required level of confidentiality at all times in relation to their work.

For an informal discussion contact;

Glos posts Rebecca Kay Deputy Team Manager mob: 07936342299

Bristol posts Anita Huggins Deputy Team Manager mob: 073957 98091

Adoption West Behaviour Principals and Values

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the Behaviour Principals and Values (available below) during the interviewing process. Approximately half of all questions relate to the principals.