Social Worker (Non-Agency Adoption and Private Fostering Team)

Join Derbyshire's Non-Agency Adoption and Private Fostering Team.

Working as a Social Worker within our team is a rewarding and fulfilling career. You will support some of our most vulnerable children and young people, helping them to achieve security and outcomes that recognise their identity. Our work is split between two distinct areas of practice; Non-Agency Adoption and Private Fostering.

Non-Agency Adoption

You will be working with families wishing to apply for an Adoption Order where this falls within Non-Agency Adoption rather than ‘mainstream adoption’; adoptive placements that have not been arranged by a local authority or registered adoption agency. This will include adoption applications by stepparents, relatives, private foster carers, and Special Guardianship Order holders. Applications for Non-Agency Adoption can also be made by local authority Foster Carers who have not sought or obtained the local authority's approval for the placement becoming an adoptive placement.

The Non-Agency Adoption Team offer the applicant(s) and/or the resident birth parent information and advice on the adoption process and the implications of adoption. Non-Agency adoption enquires are managed on a duty system within the team. This requires completion of Initial Discussions and Initial Visits across the county, working with families to explore whether adoption appears to be in the young person’s best interests.

Non-Agency adoption assessments are in-depth and often require exploration of complex family dynamics; working with the prospective adopter(s), resident and absent birth parents, extended family, and direct work with involved children. You will be responsible for overseeing all required statutory checks and references and completing an Annex A court report; working with the Court to ensure the best possible outcome for the subject child. You will often be required to complete risk assessments to understand potential risks posed by an absent birth parent.

Private Fostering

As a Private Fostering Social Worker, you will be responsible for completing Private Fostering Assessments across the county, working with Parental Responsibility Holders, Private Foster Carers and young people in private fostering arrangements. You will hold a caseload of Private Foster Carers, working to support the caring arrangement and ensure the best possible outcome for the young person.

Multi-agency working is key; you will often be working alongside Children’s Social Workers in the Locality Teams. Where a child does not meet threshold for a Children’s Social Worker, you will support both the child and carers in line with private fostering regulations, with regular statutory visits and support with education and private law applications.

We are proud of our supportive and experienced management team, who are committed to providing regular supervision, accessible guidance, and opportunities for professional development. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or looking to develop specialist knowledge within adoption and private fostering social work, you will be joining a team that values collaboration, learning and reflective practice.

Our team is passionate about improving outcomes for children and ensuring families receive the right support at the right time. We recognise the challenges of social work and actively promote a positive and supportive working environment where staff wellbeing is valued.

Due to the adoption assessment element of this role, a minimum of 3 years post-qualifying experience is required.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.