Therapeutic Social Worker /Senior Practitioner - Adoption West

This is NOT a North Somerset Council vacancy, please contact Adoption West for further details.

Therapeutic Social Worker /Senior Practitioner

An Exciting Opportunity to join Adoption West’s New Multidisciplinary Team.

Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency for, BANES Council, Bristol City Council, Gloucestershire County Council, North Somerset Council, Sth Glos Council and Wiltshire Council. Funded by Adoption England, Adoption West is now in a position to develop a Multidisciplinary Team which will include clinical psychologists and therapeutic social workers. The team will enhance the therapeutic support offered to adopted child and their families in the region.

We are seeking to recruit suitably qualified and experienced social workers to be part of this team which will develop this new aspect of the service. Multidisciplinary teams are part of a national initiative to improve and extend the scope adoption support services, funded for 18 months there is strong ambition at national and local level to extend and embed the role as a permanent part of our service. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on children’s lives by implanting early and timely trauma-informed approaches and enhancing support for adoptive families.

We’re looking for social workers who have some experience of working therapeutically and are keen to further this and help to shape to this new service for adopted children, young people and their families.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide specialist evidence-based intervention for children and adoptive parents both pre- and post-adoption order, drawing on innovative ways of engagement and intervention.
• To manage the progression of complex cases within the parameters of agreed policies, procedures, and framework for delivering support, including timely intervention, resolution and case closure or transfer.
• To facilitate joint consultations with Adoption West staff and other professionals to enhance their trauma informed practice with children and adopters
• To convene and chair case specific and other liaison/multiagency meetings as appropriate.
• To provide specialist knowledge and advice to the service and other multi-agency professionals that helps them better understand the diverse experiences the children and young people have that we work with and support.
• To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills of Adoption West Staff and wider stakeholders e.g., schools, local authority social workers
• To facilitate parenting, training programmes /seminars and structured support groups

What We’re Looking For:

• Social Work degree, Dip SW, CQSW or equivalent
• Social Work England registered
• 2 years post-qualifying with children and families.
• Qualification in a therapeutic model/practice relevant to children who experienced development trauma e.g., dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP), therapeutic life story work, cognitive behavioural approaches, systemic theory. The level of qualification needs to meet the requirement for the associated professional body.
• Experience of adoption and or work with children looked after.
• Experience of working with parents, children, and families in therapeutic interventions and in particular those who have experienced developmental trauma and loss.
• Driving licence

Why Join Us?

This role offers a rare chance to shape therapeutic practice within a Regional Adoption Agency and contribute to meaningful change for children and families. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to continuous learning and improvement.

As well as being part of the Adoption West team, appropriate clinical supervision will be provided.

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.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact:

Alison Lewis, Service Director – alison.lewis@adoptionwest.co.uk

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