Adoption Support Worker

Please note that this is not a Bristol City Council vacancy.
Permanent, 1 full time (37hrs) and 1 part time (30 hrs) posts available.
Location: Flexible. An office base in one of the offices within the Adoption West region (Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge) and working from home.
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.

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

To find out more and to apply please click here