Birth Links Social Worker

This is not a North Somerset Council vacancy therefore please contact Adoption West for further information.

Interview date: Wednesday 28 May 2025

Location:  Flexible, you will be based in one of the offices within the Adoption West region (Bristol, Gloucester or Trowbridge) and working from home.

Adoption West is a Regional Adoption Agency and registered Voluntary Adoption Agency commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Councils. 

Adoption West provides a range of adoption services including:

• The recruitment and assessment of prospective adopters
• Family finding services for children requiring permanency via adoption 
• Post adoption support services
• Services to birth family and adopted adults 

This is an exciting time to join Adoption West as we build on the solid foundations already in place and our ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted. 

Birth Links is the team within Adoption West, which provides support to Birth Parents and Adopted Adults. The service covers the whole of the Adoption West region.

We are looking to recruit a part-time, two days per week, Birth Links Social Worker.

Main Duties:

• Provide access to adoption records and Sch2 counselling services to adopted adults across the Adoption West region
• Be responsible for liaising with Local Authorities, Voluntary Agencies, Courts and the General Registry Office in order to locate and gather adoption records
• Support the process of summarising these records and facilitate records being shared sensitively with adopted adults. 
• Provide intermediary advice and signposting services to adopted adults
• Provide emotional support in the form of short-term sessions with adopted adults.

You will need:

• A Social Work Qualification (degree or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England
• You will need to be able to travel around the whole region and so must be able to drive and have access to your own vehicle
• Ability to communicate effectively with empathy, understanding and some knowledge about adoption and the lifelong impact on families.
• The ability to use your own initiative and work independently
• Experience of managing your own caseload and working to deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to work as part of a team, sharing knowledge and managing cases

Adoption West:

• is an organisation with a wealth of experience and has a learning culture committed to enabling the post holder to grow and develop in their role. 
• provides support through supervision and training. 
• offers flexible working arrangements, including job shares
• provides a Local Government Pension Scheme and access to the Child Care vouchers scheme.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact:

For further information about this post please contact Claire Jarvis at claire.jarvis@adoptionwest.co.uk 

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will require an Enhanced DBS check before appointment can be confirmed.

Confidentiality: Employees are expected to maintain the required level of confidentiality at all times in relation to their work

Adoption West Behaviour Principals and Values:

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the Behaviour Principals and Values during the interviewing process.