Job Description

Team Manager - Adoption Recruitment & Training Team
Permanent, Full Time
54,001 to 66,899 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It's an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who recruit, train and support adoptive households. The team also manages stepparent and non-agency adoption enquiries and assessments. The team is based at County Hall, Chelmsford however the adoption agency covers the county and therefore supports adoption events countywide. As well as offering support to the quadrant adoption teams, where necessary.
Essex Adoption Agency is part of the Adopt East Alliance. A regional adoption agency consisting of 8 local authorities and 2 voluntary adoption agencies, working together in an alliance to promote best practice in adoption recruitment, family finding and adoption support.
As Team Manager, you will lead a dedicated team, developing their capabilities, promoting best practice, and holding them accountable for performance and continuous improvement. Working closely with the Service Manager, you will contribute to strategic development and ensure the service remains responsive and adaptive to change.
Accountabilities

• To act as a role model and source of professional expertise in relation to current best practice in adoption.
• To uphold statutory requirements of both adoption and children's legislation, plus any Departmental requirements.
• To manage the recruitment of prospective adopters during enquiry and stage 1 of the adoption assessment process.
• To lead and facilitate adoption recruitment activity and information events, which may include some weekend working. This includes face to face recruitment events and digital/ social media recruitment activity.
• To work with adopter training partners in the delivery of training and adoption support.
• To manage stepparent and non-agency enquiries and assessments
• To contribute and lead the adopter recruitment strategy.
• To work in partnership with Adopt East Colleagues to support regional recruitment activity, stage 1 and assessment processes.
• To work closely with commissioning colleagues, and independent therapeutic providers to implement the provider commissioning framework.
• To maintain an up-to-date record of activity on case files in line with the department case recording policy
• To promote and comply with Safeguarding procedures
• Record details of assessments on the system; collate cohort and trend data, monitor outcomes and respond to data requests.

Why work with us in Chelmsford?

• Working in a highly motivated, innovative and supported team
• A commitment to securing best outcomes for children
• Essex have a flexible working policy programme that, where possible, fits with family life and work life balance
• Training/Workshops on the context of Adoption
• Support to workers to include regular supervision, group supervision, workshops and reflective practise.
• Based in modern, friendly and pleasant offices in Chelmsford which have good transport links to motorways.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A Diploma or Degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS)
• Capability to lead a team in a Social Care environment
• Experience of working with Children and Families, including adoption work essential.
• Experience of assessment and recruitment of adopters or similar preferable.
• Open to change and ready to innovate, you will be keen to join an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally, make an impact individually and deliver positive outcomes collaboratively
• Experience of working with external providers preferable.
• Court experiences preferable
• Analytical report writing skills are essential
• Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important
• Flexible working is required with some Saturday working for recruitment events.
• Writing in-depth analytical reports.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to
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