Birth Links Support Worker - Adoption West - #1797744

Please note this is not a Bath & North East Somerset Council Vacancy.

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.

We have a vacancy for a part time Support Worker in the Birth Links team and although the team covers the whole Adoption West region, this post will have a caseload of service users who live in the Gloucestershire area.

Main Duties

Birth Links is the team within Adoption West, which provides independent 1:1 support and group work to birth relatives and adopted adults. The tasks the Support Worker will undertake include providing emotional support to birth relatives, giving and clarifying information about the adoption process, supporting birth parents to write a later life letter for their child, supporting birth parents to meet with the adopters of their child, liaising with children’s social workers and with letterbox support workers regarding contact plans, running birth parent groups and signposting to a range of other services.

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.
  
  

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.

Additional Information

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.

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the Behaviour Principals and Values (available below) during the interviewing process.

For An Informal Discussion Please Contact

Claire Jarvis, Birth Links Deputy Team Manager - 07395 798096.

Adoption West Behaviour Principals And Values

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the and during the interviewing process.

• How to Apply