Job Description

Adoption Social Worker | Based at our Warrington office | Fixed Term - 12 months | We promote flexibility by operating a Hybrid Working Policy with the ability to work remotely as required - we would welcome applicants from across the Warrington, St Helens and Liverpool geographical areas, and also from across the North West Region | 37.5 hours per week | Up to Salary scale point 35 43,421 Actual for Child Care Award (or equivalent); up to Salary Scale Point 32 40,221 without - depending on experience | 24 days Holidays (Plus a long service Holiday award after 5 years) pro-rata and additional public bank holidays

Do you have excellent confidentiality, communication and are resilient and resourceful?



Do you hold experience in a social care setting with experience of social work and PAR Assessments?

This is an exciting opportunity to join and support an innovative, 'Outstanding' children's charity and one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies in the UK.

About us

Adoption Matters is a registered children's charity and one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies in the UK. We recruit, train, support individuals and families as adopters, offer them ongoing support, and training for as long as they need it. We also provide support to birth families and adopted adults. We are the

ONLY

adoption service in the North of England rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted for the last five consecutive inspections. In 2024, the Adoption Matters family grew as we launched our not-for profit fostering agency Foster Care Matters.

What we are looking for

The successful candidate will hold a Social Work degree or equivalent and will be registered with Social Work England. You must also have experience of children's social care and preferably experience of adoption work e.g. Prospective Adopter Report (PAR) assessment, support, inter-agency working and knowledge of the Adoption & Children Act 2002.



An Enhanced DBS check will be required.



You will be a member of a team expanding its philosophy and commitment in the field of adoption and permanency, sharing the agency's development plans. We're looking for someone to drive and deliver striving to promote our ethos and values whilst ensuring the child is the centre of all we do. You will need to have the drive to work on your own initiative, bringing your own ideas to the table. We encourage all of our staff to share their ideas and help us improve our practice and processes wherever we can.

About the role

Are you the right person for the role?

Experience of children's social care work. Ability to use initiative and be resilient. Ability to seek advice appropriately. Ability to work steadily and increase pace as necessary. Knowledge of Adoption & Children Act 2002. Ability to work with children, young people and adults, including people with disabilities. Ability to write complex reports to a good standard of literacy.

Your main responsibilities will involve

To carry out work as required enabling the agency to provide a comprehensive adoption service.


Recruitment, preparation and assessment of families for children referred to the agency, including presentation of PARs at panel meetings. Provide good liaison with care agencies in order to match suitable children with approved applicants and in co-operation with the placing agency to support the applicants both pre and post placement, including where necessary post adoption. To attend planning meetings, reviews and Court as necessary. To offer advice and, where appropriate, counselling to birth parents and extended families, adoptive parents and extended families and adoptees. To attend staff and team meetings and supervision with Line Manager. To participate in the Enquiry Line which is the Agency's first point of contact for people who are considering adoption. To be a member of a team expanding its philosophy and its commitment in the field of adoption and permanency and to share in the agency's development plans. To comply with the agency's statutory obligations, including adoption and safeguarding of children. At all times when carrying out principal responsibilities to maintain financial and budgetary awareness and ensure that operation management approval is obtained for any expenditure outside own delegated maximum. To share the agency's commitment to equal opportunities and diversity. Undertake other work as directed up to and at a level commensurate with the principal accountabilities of the job.

What we offer in return

To join the ONLY adoption agency in the North West rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted FIVE times in a row, since 2008. Hybrid Working Policy with the ability to work remotely as required. Any additional time worked in excess of normal working hours to facilitate the needs of the business, may be taken flexibly as time off in lieu. Competitive rates of pay. Competitive pension scheme. Generous holidays. Plus, a paid end-of-year discretional shutdown period (pro-rata to the weekly contracted hours of work) after a satisfactory completion of the six-month probationary period. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, 24/7 well-being support scheme. Your development: working across departments you will be an integral part of a supportive team. Full training is provided, and the opportunity to make a difference, feel valued and achieve the job satisfaction you've always wanted. One paid wellbeing hour to be taken monthly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Our values are honesty, fairness, inclusivity, flexibility, ethically based, and celebrating difference. We encourage applications from all areas of the community. We believe that our organisation should reflect and represent the full richness of human diversity in terms of background, identity, ability and circumstance. As groups of people currently under- represented as Adoption Matters employees, we are particularly keen to receive your application if you are Black, Asian or minority ethnic, have a disability or have personal experience of the care system and/or adoption. We will be measuring our success in redressing this.



We are open to discussion of any adjustments or any flexible arrangements you may need to achieve your full potential at any stage of the process, and if you are successful in gaining a position with us, during employment. We promise the only thing we assess within your application is how you have demonstrated your suitability for the job, and nothing else.



We are open to discussion of any adjustments or any flexible arrangements you may need to achieve your full potential at any stage of the process, and if you are successful in gaining a position with us, during employment. We promise the only thing we assess within your application is how you have demonstrated your suitability for the job, and nothing else.

What's next? It's easy! Follow the instructions below to apply! We can't wait to hear from you!

How to apply

To apply, please download the Candidate Application Pack, including the , the Person Specification and the application form. If you could please then complete the application form before returning it via email or post along with a copy of your CV to:

Email:

recruitment@adoptionmatters.org

Post:

FAO HR Department, Adoption Matters, 14 Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1AE.



Early application is encouraged as we review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.


Adoption Social Worker Adoption Social Worker Person Specification

Closing date:

12:00 (Mid-day) Friday 24th October 2025

Interview date:

TBC

Interview venue:

Chester office, 14 Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1AE.



If you require any more information on this role please contact our HR team on Tel: 01244 390 938.



Adoption Matters is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people therefore please note our recruitment procedure includes DBS checks and other relevant employment checks, including the right to work in the UK.

Please note that we only contact candidates selected for interview and we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications.