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Job Description
Job Title:
Social Worker (Adoption Support Service)
Service:
Coram Cambridgeshire Adoption
Reporting to:
Team Manager/Consultant Social Worker
Supervisory responsibilities:
None
Salary Range:
£29,000 per annum
Purpose of the role:

To provide a child-centred, comprehensive adoption service to prospective adopters,
adopters and children and young people.

To promote a child-centred approach which respects children’s rights in all aspects of
adoption.

To develop a specialist area of expertise and responsibility within the team as agreed with
the agency manager.
Main duties and responsibilities:

To provide support, counselling and therapeutic interventions to adoptive families, adopted
children, special guardians, children subject to a special guardianship order, adults and birth
relatives.

To deliver support services including therapeutic services for adopted children and their
families and special guardians and their families.

To undertake direct work with children, individually or in groups.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2
1

To participate in delivering CCA’s therapeutic parenting programmes, attachment focused
work, and parenting skills training for adopters and special guardians.

To participate in undertaking adoption support assessments including assessment for
therapeutic assessments of children and their adoptive families, special guardians and their
children.

To maintain and constantly update personal skills and knowledge to ensure best practice
and to integrate learning into your own practice and to others.

To provide support, counselling and therapeutic interventions to adoptive parents and
children, special guardians and children.

To liaise with Children’s Services, schools, CAMHS, LSCB and other resources in order to
obtain services for adopted children and children subject to special guardianship orders.

To play a key role in counselling and provision of therapeutic interventions to adopted
adults and their birth relatives where the adopted person was previously looked after by
Cambridgeshire, Adopt Anglia, Coram Cambridgeshire and Suffolk

To maintain and constantly update personal skills and knowledge to ensure best practice.

To implement Coram Cambridgeshire Adoption policies and procedures and act within the
requirements of relevant legislation and regulations.

To keep abreast of other relevant policies for Coram Cambridgeshire and partner agencies,
adhering to procedures and legislation and guidance, and Coram’s safeguarding policy.

To maintain case records and provide reports to a high standard as required in the
presentation of assessments, by the courts, adoption panel or other specialist reports
related to adoption services
.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2
2

To participate in supervision, team meetings and consultation with adoption agency
advisers.

To engage with the research and service developments being undertaken within the team
and the wider organisation.

To promote equal opportunities and to strive to achieve anti-discriminatory, child-centred
practice in all aspects of the work undertaken.

To carry out duties consistent with the role and outcomes for children as requested.

To uphold the HCPC proficiency standards as a registered social worker.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2
3
Person Specification
Job Title:
Social Worker (Adoption Support Service)
Service:
Coram Cambridgeshire Adoption
Reporting to:
Team Manager/Consultant Social Worker
Supervisory responsibilities:
None
Salary Range:
£26,500 - £31,500 per annum
Qualification:

A professional qualification in social work, and registration with the Health and Care
Professionals Council (HCPC).
Experience:

Preferably with demonstrable experience of adoption, supporting adoptive placements
and/or of working with looked after children and placing them for adoption.

Knowledge of post placement and post adoption support of families and children.

Knowledge of multi disciplinary and interagency working, and advocating for children’s
needs within the education and with community mental health services for children and
young people.
Capabilities:
A demonstrable ability to:

Communicate and present effectively in writing and orally.

Work in partnership with our users, both adults and children, to identify and build on their
potential and optimising children’s chances of a secure, safe and loving family.

Organise work efficiently and effectively to the standard required including requirements
for data entry and recording.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2

Ability to deliver under pressure and to be flexible

Ability to undertake visits both within and outside Cambridgeshire

Work as part of a dynamic team to optimise delivery and improve services

Use supervision and consultation appropriately including peer supervision and self directed
learning so to enhance effective delivery.
Knowledge base:

Child development, including the impact of trauma and loss

Family dynamics

Couple relationships and parenting capacity

The impact of differences of culture, religion and class on identity and patterns of family
life

Attachment theory

Relevant legislation

Relevant research

Understanding of the role of contact for children with their birth families in adoption.

Understanding of placement delivery options including concurrent planning and fostering
for adoption and situations in which they are applicable

Demonstrate a sound knowledge of relevant childcare legislation including the Adoption
and Children Act 2002 (and updated Regulations and Guidance and NMS 2011), Children
Act 1989, and Working Together to Safeguard Children (Guidance 2013).
Values:

A belief in the right to family life for all children, and a creative approach to achieving this
within children’s timescales.

A belief in children’s right to feel safe and cared for, and a commitment to implementing
Coram’s safeguarding policy.

A commitment to children’s rights and participation.

A commitment to promoting equal opportunities and to achieving anti discriminatory
practice in all aspects of work.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2
5

A commitment to provide high quality adoption practice and to contribute to the
maintenance of the project as a centre of excellence.
Owner: CCA
Created: November 2013
Revised: July 2016
Issue: 2
6