Job Introduction
Internal Applicants Only
This is an exciting opportunity for a child focused, dynamic and enthusiastic experienced social worker to join the Staffordshire Permanency Support Locality Team, part of the Together4Children Permanency Partnership for a 12-month secondment.
The team operates its own duty system across the county of Staffordshire, where adoptive parents self-refer directly to the team.
This role is a unique role set within the team and the first point of contact for parents. You will provide a consistent approach to identifying the needs of adopted children which can result in advice, signposting, completing assessments or allocation into the team. The caseload of the duty workers is dynamic as a result of the nature of the role.
The team is also responsible for responding to requests for information from adopted adults (Birth Records Counselling/Access to Adoption Records), birth parent support and post box communication.
We are committed to delivering high quality permanency support assessments and interventions for adopted children and their families across the county.
You will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the roles and responsibilities of the duty social workers as the service is currently reviewing how we support our children and families.
Internal applicants: if you plan to apply for this role on a secondment basis please make sure you have followed the process here for gaining approval from your current line manager. If you are offered the role and you do not have agreement this will cause significant delays to the process.
Main Responsibility
You will:
- have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the roles and responsibilities of the duty social workers as the service is currently reviewing how we support our children and families.
- triage referrals, complete timely, evidence based, adoption support assessments, providing quality therapeutic support set out in a clear adoption support plan and/or liaise with other professionals, signpost, and refer adopted children and their parents where necessary to targeted/universal/other services.
- be responsible for managing and responding to a significant number of referrals alongside our permanent duty social worker.
- undertake assessments and interventions to adoptive children and families in Staffordshire.
- liaise closely with the team manager, who will then allocate further planned work to other members in the team.
- work with individual service users, undertaking adoption support assessments and identifying initial plans of support and further work.
- liaise with district, regional colleagues and early help as well as a range of other agencies.
- have the opportunity to be involved in groups, activities, the preparation and delivery of training to adopters and colleagues in a range of areas related to adoption and permanence.
The Ideal Candidate
You will:
- be Qualified Social Worker
- be registered with Social Work England
- be child focused and have a sound understanding of relevant legislation and policy in respect of children’s welfare and adoption, adoption support, Birth Records Counselling and Access to Adoption Records.
- have a thorough understanding of attachment, separation, trauma, and child development.
- have skills in direct work with adults and children and the ability to work in partnership with other agencies across the country.
- have experience of child protection and/or work with children who can no longer live in their birth family.
- have the ability to organise, manage and prioritise a busy duty system and competing demands.
- have the ability to work in partnership with our district colleagues, professionals and other agencies across the country.
- have an ability to demonstrate an understanding of the range of needs of adoptive children and their families is essential.
- demonstrate ICT competency, particularly Excel.
- demonstrate assessment writing and analytical skill.
- have an understanding of relevant legislation and policy in respect of
- Full UK driving licence and access to a car, as we are a county wide service.
With a strong desire to expand your learning, this position offers a fantastic opportunity to learn, develop and progress.
Whilst there is the opportunity for some home-based working, the Permanency Support Team provides a county wide service, and you will be required to travel to various locations across the Together4Children Permanency Partnership Region.
There is an expectation that you will be working in the office base for a minimum of two days per week. There is also requirement to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends on a planned basis.
Interviews will be held on 16th March 2026
Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Lisa Burke, Permanency Team Manager at lisa.burke@staffordshire.gov.uk
Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
