The role
Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude and enviable reputation. As a council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. We are committed to our ‘Fairer Futures for All’ promise which ensures that our residents and businesses are central to everything we do.
The Adopt London South – Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) provides adoption services in partnership across currently 9 South London boroughs. Last year 76 children moved into new families. We have a diverse, highly committed and skilled team of Adoption social workers and management team. ALS works closely with partners across Adopt London’s 4 RAA’s, covering 23 LA’s to develop new approaches to adoption services, reducing delay for all children and delivering post adoption services to children, families, birth parents and adopted adults. A new strategic project to address race disparity in London starts in November across Adopt London.
We are looking for an acting Service Manager at Adopt London South for 9 months, pending a new LA partner joining and an organisational review.
The key duties and responsibilities of the role:
- Bring excellent operational and performance management to Adopt London South within the ALS Delivery plan
- Manage staff, resources and financial accountability to all partners, to Southwark as host and to external agencies
- Ensure excellent adoption practice
- Play a leading role in reducing race disparity at every stage in all adoption journeys for South London children and families
- Collaborate across Adopt London RAAs to promote the best outcomes for South London children
Support the Head of Service in developing a diverse, forward thinking service to meet the needs of South London children and everyone affected by adoption.
About You:
The role will require applicants to be an experienced qualified Social Worker with an understanding of the complexity of adoption, including the regulatory context and the implications for partnership across the 9 Local Authorities.
This is an opportunity to develop leadership skills bringing innovation to adoption across the region
Working to provide best outcomes for Adoption
- A vibrant place and Service to work with and a diverse community
- Strong commitment to partnership working with our Local Authority colleagues
- Commitment to Personal Development of staff
Qualifications:
- Experienced Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
Experience:
- Experience of understanding adoption as a lifelong journey for children, families and adults
- Experience of supervising and managing people and systems, including working with complex financial issues
- Experience of building excellent working relationships across multiple and diverse Local Authorities and agencies
- Experience of the context of adoption in communities such as South London
- Experience of addressing race disparity in adoption
Additional details
We will only consider applications from internal candidates, that are current employees or agency workers on an active assignment.
This post is fixed term for 9 months with a salary range of £51,663 - £64,725 per annum.
36 hours per week, Monday to Friday (flexible hours will be considered).
This post requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Recruitment timetable
Closing date: Tuesday 23rd November 2021 at 23:59
Assessment: Week beginning 29th November 2021
Interview date: Friday 3rd December 2021
SWCINT
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council
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