12-month secondment to an adoption social worker post in the Shropshire & Telford Joint Hub of Together4Childen An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Adoption Social Worker to be seconded for 12 months into Shropshire and Telford’s Joint Hub. We are a high performing adoption team that provides adoption services to two Local Authorities, Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council through the wider Permanency Partnership Together4Children with Stoke-on-Trent Council and Staffordshire Council in line with the Government’s Regionalisation of Adoption agenda. Main Responsibilities We are seeking to offer a 12 month secondment to an experienced social worker to undertake timely, evidence-based adoption assessments, to provide high-quality support to prospective adopters, and to undertake family finding activities for prospective adopters and children. There is an expectation that the social worker appointed will be involved in the preparation and delivery of training to prospective adopters, foster carers, and social work colleagues in a range of areas related to adoption and permanence. Whilst there is the opportunity for some home-based working, the Adoption Assessment and Support Team provides a countywide service. You will be required to have a car to be able to travel to various locations across the Together4Children Permanency Partnership Region, as well as to travel across the rest of the country on occasion. There will be a requirement for you to work flexibly, including that will need to be able and prepared to occasionally work during an evening and at a weekend on a planned basis. The Ideal Candidate The Ideal Candidate will: Be a qualified social worker preferably with 3 years post qualifying experience. Have a sound understanding of relevant legislation and policy in respect of adoption, permanency planning, children in care and safeguarding. Have skills in direct work with children and adults. Have a thorough understanding of attachment, separation, trauma and child development. Have the ability to work in partnership with other agencies across the country. For more information about the secondment please contact: Melanie Steele - Team Manager - Adoption Assessment and Support, on 01743 250138 or melanie.steele@shropshire.gov.uk If you wish to be considered for this post, please send an expression of interest explaining what skills and experience you have that make you suitable for this post. Expressions of interest will be accepted until 4 pm on Friday 16 May About Staffordshire County Council We are no ordinary county council: Our Values: The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. Our benefits: We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire Our recruitment process: As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post. As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.. Location : Telford, SY3