Adoption Support Social Worker – Wiltshire Council
UK-Based Social Work Opportunity | Full-Time | Hybrid/Home Working | £39,862–£41,771 + 8% Market Supplement
Wiltshire Council, through Adoption West, is recruiting an Adoption Support Social Worker to provide specialist support to adoptive families, children and young people.
This is a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover position, offering flexible working with an office base in Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge, alongside home or remote working.
Important: NHS Jobs states that applications cannot currently be accepted directly through NHS Jobs for this vacancy. Candidates wishing to be considered should apply through the Adoption West/Wiltshire Council recruitment website using the application link provided below.
Job Overview
- Job title: Adoption Support Social Worker
- Employer: Wiltshire Council / Adoption West
- Reference: F0041-26-0028
- Salary: £39,862 – £41,771 per year
- Additional payment: 8% market supplement, subject to review
- Contract: Fixed-term
- Duration: 12 months
- Working hours: 37 hours per week
- Working pattern: Full-time, flexible working, home or remote working
- Location: Trowbridge, Bristol or Gloucester, with home working
- Closing date: 31 August 2026 at 5:00pm
- Interview date: 8 September 2026
- Professional registration: Social Work England registration required
About Adoption West
Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency and registered Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned by:
- Bath & North East Somerset Council
- Bristol City Council
- Gloucestershire Council
- North Somerset Council
- South Gloucestershire Council
- Wiltshire Council
The organisation provides a range of adoption services, including:
- Recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters
- Family finding for children requiring permanency through adoption
- Post-adoption support
- Support for birth families
- Services for adopted adults
Adoption West has an established learning culture and is committed to supporting employees to develop professionally. The organisation provides supervision, training and flexible working arrangements, including job-share opportunities.
The Role
The successful candidate will provide specialist social work support to adoptive families and children, including families experiencing complex needs.
Key areas of work include:
- Providing advice and support to adoptive families
- Assessing adoption support needs
- Working with children and families with complex needs
- Providing therapeutic support directly or through Adoption Support Fund applications
- Assessing prospective adopters
- Supporting matching and placement of children for adoption
- Presenting assessments to the Adoption Panel
- Supporting prospective adopters before and after approval
- Contributing to adopter training and development
- Developing and implementing adoption support plans
- Working with children and families to address identified difficulties
- Convening and chairing case-specific and multi-agency meetings
- Completing children-in-need procedures within required timescales
- Making applications to the Adoption Support Fund
- Providing consultation to social workers involved in adoption placements
- Supporting appropriate matches for children requiring adoptive placements
Main Responsibilities
The post holder will contribute to the continued development of Adoption West’s adoption services and will work collaboratively with social workers, families, children, young people and partner agencies.
Responsibilities include:
- Contributing to Prospective Adopter Reports, Adoption Support Assessments and Non-Agency Adoptions
- Ensuring statutory and regulatory requirements are completed within required timescales
- Supporting the development of the adoption support core offer
- Providing birth records counselling
- Supporting adopted adults who wish to access birth records
- Participating in the team’s duty rota
- Promoting equality, diversity and inclusive practice
- Maintaining current knowledge of social work methods, legislation and procedures
- Working in accordance with relevant children’s legislation and policies
- Engaging parents, carers, children and young people in service development
- Building effective relationships with professionals and external agencies
- Developing knowledge of statutory and voluntary services
- Preparing effectively for supervision and appraisal
- Maintaining continuing professional development
- Supporting effective resource management and value for money
Essential Knowledge and Experience
Applicants should have current knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, guidance and professional practice relating to children and young people.
Essential requirements include:
- Up-to-date knowledge of legislation and guidance relating to the protection of children and young people
- Thorough understanding of the needs of children in care
- Knowledge of Adoption Regulations (England) 2011
- Knowledge of Adoption National Minimum Standards and associated guidance
- Knowledge of key childcare legislation, policies and professional practices
- Understanding of the Every Child Matters framework and its five outcomes
- Knowledge of assessment processes and multi-agency working
- Experience of direct post-qualifying work with children, young people and families
- Experience working with children in care, families and foster carers
- Experience completing assessments, reports and plans
- Evidence of effective problem-solving and professional decision-making
- Excellent assessment and report-writing skills
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Ability to prioritise competing demands and manage a caseload
- Ability to maintain accurate electronic records
- Good IT skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to develop effective professional relationships
- Ability to identify complex problems and develop creative solutions
- Commitment to continuing professional development and evidence-based practice
Desirable Experience
The following would be advantageous:
- Experience delivering training
- Experience assessing adopters
- Experience providing adoption support services
- Experience of supervision
- Experience supervising staff or students
- Consultation experience
- Practice supervision skills
- Practice Teachers Award
Essential Qualification and Registration
Applicants must have:
- A recognised Professional Social Work qualification
- Current registration with Social Work England
A post-qualifying Social Work award would be desirable.
Applicants should ensure their professional registration remains current throughout the recruitment and employment process.
Working Arrangements
The position offers flexible working arrangements.
The successful candidate will have an office base at one of the Adoption West locations in:
- Trowbridge
- Bristol
- Gloucester
The role also provides opportunities for home or remote working, subject to the requirements of the service.
Applicants must be able to travel throughout the Adoption West area and should be prepared to work outside normal working hours when required, including planned work and occasional short-notice requirements.
Salary and Benefits
The successful candidate will receive:
- £39,862 to £41,771 annual salary
- 8% market supplement, subject to review
- Full-time 37-hour working week
- Flexible working arrangements
- Home/remote working opportunities
- Potential job-share arrangements
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to the Child Care Vouchers scheme
- Supervision and professional support
- Training and development opportunities
- A learning-focused working environment
DBS Check
This role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
The successful applicant will therefore be required to undergo the appropriate DBS process.
Locations
The advertised locations include:
Wiltshire Council – County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
United Kingdom
Adoption West – Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TP
United Kingdom
Bristol City Council – B Bond Warehouse
Smeaton Road
Bristol
BS1 6XN
United Kingdom
Who Should Apply?
This vacancy is particularly suited to qualified social workers with experience working with:
- Children in care
- Adoptive families
- Children and young people with complex needs
- Families and foster carers
- Adoption assessments
- Adoption support
- Child protection and safeguarding
- Multi-agency children’s services
Candidates should have strong assessment, communication, organisation and report-writing skills, together with current professional registration.
Visa Sponsorship / Overseas Applicants
The vacancy information provided does not confirm that visa sponsorship or a Certificate of Sponsorship is available.
Applicants requiring sponsorship should independently confirm their eligibility and whether the employer is able to sponsor the relevant role before applying.
The advert specifically states that applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Application Information
Closing date: 31 August 2026 at 5:00pm
Interview date: 8 September 2026
Important application instruction: NHS Jobs states that applications cannot currently be accepted directly through NHS Jobs for this vacancy.
Candidates wishing to be considered should apply through the employer’s recruitment website using the following application page:
Apply for Adoption Support Social Worker – Vacancy 8104
Employer
Wiltshire Council / Adoption West
Employer website:
Wiltshire Council official website
Contact for Further Information
For questions about the position:
Anjali Gupta
Email: Anjali.gupta@adoptionwest.co.uk
Important Notice
Applicants should carefully review the official vacancy information and eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
The closing date is 31 August 2026 at 5:00pm, so candidates should allow sufficient time to complete the application process.
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Adoption Support Social Worker Jobs UK – £41,771 + 8% Supplement | Wiltshire Council
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Adoption Support Social Worker vacancy with Wiltshire Council/Adoption West. Salary £39,862–£41,771 + 8% supplement, hybrid/home working and 12-month contract. Apply by 31 August 2026.