Team Manager - Mid Essex Adoption Team

Team Manager - Mid Essex Adoption Team

Permanent, Full Time

From £52,428 to £64,950 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 15th July 2024

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

In ECC we are "Serious about Social Work". We have invested in our workforce and created a positive environment for our social workers to make a difference and achieve change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice. We have supported our staff to have an understanding of systemic theoretical framework and models underpinning our interventions; to have access to the right tools, equipment and resources; and also the right supervision, training and learning opportunities they need to be strong practitioners

The Team
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who co-ordinate, train and support adoptive households. The team also has a key role in finding adoptive families for children with a plan for adoption. The team is based at County Hall, Chelmsford and we support colleagues in our neighbouring quadrant teams when required. Essex Adoption Agency sits within Essex County Council Children's Services and is part of the Adopt East Alliance.
Essex County Council has recently been awarded the Social Work Employer of the Year award 2022.

The Role

• 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 assessment and support of prospective adopters during the adoption process.
• To manage the family finding of children with a plan for adoption.
• To manage the support available to children placed for adoption prior to the Adoption Order being made.
• To contribute and lead an identified practice lead within the Adoption Service.
• 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.
• To work in partnership with Adopt East Alliance member agencies; to promote good practice across the region.

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
* There is the opportunity to enhance your experience in court work as well as child protection and child in need practice policies and procedures
* 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

• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker.
• Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS)
• Experience of leading a team in a Social Care environment
• Experience of working within Children and Family,Service with experience in adoption work
• 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
• Court experience preferable
• Analytical report writing skills are essential
• Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important
• Flexible working is required with occasional out of county work
• Writing in-depth analytical reports.

To read more about us please visit:Children & Families

Please take a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

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? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

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.

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

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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