Adoption Agency Advisor

Salary: Grade 9, the salary range for this role is £43,149 - £47,665 pro rata

Contract: Fixed term contract

Hours: Part-time for 19.5 hours

Closing date: 11/11/2026

We have a rare and exciting opportunity for a part time fixed term (1 year) Adoption Agency Advisor to cover maternity. The role is for 19.5 hours per week, alongside another experienced Adoption Agency Advisor.

What will I be doing?

Within this role, you will:

• Provide advice and support to the Operations Manager for CLA & LC with a lead role for Adoption and contribute towards the planning, delivery and performance of Somerset’s adoption service in relation to children.
• Undertake a quality assurance role in reports presented to the Agency Decision Maker for Adoption.
• Provide advice and guidance on adoption matters to Social Workers and Team Managers and provide supervision on specialist aspects of adoption casework, as required.
• Provide expert advice and assistance as required to support the ADM to make the required adoption decisions on behalf of Somerset Council.
• Support the development of practice in Somerset in relation to Early Permanence and Adoption.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

You will be educated to degree level in Social Work and registered as a Social Worker with Social Work England, and have at least 3 years’ post qualifying experience in child care social work, including direct experience of adoption work.

You will have proven ability to supervise others, to give advice and feedback when required, as well as provide training.

You will have proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of teams and other professionals.

You will have excellent recording skills and strong organisational and time management skills.

Anything else I should know?

The salary range for this role is £43,149 - £47,665 pro rata (Grade 9). Appointments are normally made at the bottom of the salary scale.

Whilst this role can involve some working from home, you will also need to live within travelling distance of an office base in Somerset (Shape Mendip, Brympton Way Yeovil, Bridgwater or County Hall in Taunton), in order to spend time working alongside the teams on a regular basis. You will need to have access to a vehicle.

For more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact Maggie Rees: margaret.rees@somerset.gov.uk

Job Spec:  AU0661 - Adoption Agency Advisor.pdf 

Job Number: 1582/WS  (please quote in all correspondence)