Adopt London North is the Regional Adoption Agency for 6 North London boroughs - Haringey, Enfield, Camden, Hackney, Barnet, and Islington, who are our host borough. We are responsible for family finding and transition planning for children with an adoption plan (Family Finding team); recruiting, assessing and supporting prospective adoptive parents (Recruitment and Assessment team); and providing support to adoptive families, adopted adults and birth parents (Adoption Support team). We also have an Adoption Panel service. We work with our other Adopt London partners to develop and share best practice and opportunities for families effected by adoption in London.
The current role is for a Social Worker in the Adoption Support team (with future opportunities to change teams). The Adoption Support team is a busy team, supporting adoptive families, adopted adults and birth families, working with therapeutic providers and the Adoption Support Fund, holding a caseload of families who need advice, support and advocacy, accessing and sharing records with adopted adults and helping birth families remain in contact with one another. People seek our support when they are struggling to meet a child’s needs, when they have questions about their own life story, when they need to make sense of all the challenges that come from being part of a family effected by adoption.
Islington use a Motivational Interviewing model for working with staff and service users and part of your interview will be a role play that will help you show your skills in this area.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion: We are committed to ensuring that our communities are represented across our workforce and at all levels. We are taking concerted, meaningful and intentional action to create an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking, to thrive in our organisation. We are aware of systemic oppression and its impact on individuals and communities in terms of unequal access to services and opportunities. As such, we are taking positive action to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to make Islington a fairer and equitable place to live and work.
If you would like to discuss the role, please email Teresa Stratford (Service Manager) in the first instance; teresa.stratford@islington.gov.uk and a phone discussion can be arranged.
In order to be considered for this role you will need to demonstrate (in both your application and your interview):
Islington is one of the most vibrant areas of London, with a diverse population, a unique cultural identity and a wealth of open spaces, theatres, museums, cinemas, and galleries.
Our Children’s Social Care services have been rated by OFSTED as Outstanding and praises an “unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the lives of children and their families”
A snapshot of what we offer our social workers:
Up to 28 days annual leave per year (increasing to 33 days after five years of local government service)
In addition to annual leave, the council grants 3 privilege days which must be taken during the Christmas and New Year period as the council stipulates.
35-hour working week
A range of flexible working arrangements
Zone 1-2 Travel card for our Children’s Social Workers
Retention bonus’ for our Children’s Social Workers
Specially designed core training package
Excellent pension scheme with a new Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution (Shared Cost AVC) employee benefit scheme.
Competitive pay – and a commitment to paying all staff and apprentices the London Living Wage
Lead authority for Step Up to Social Work
Social Work training through Social Work Apprenticeship Degree
Highly valued Assessed and Supported Year in Education through Islington ASYE Academy.
Access to Management and Coaching Apprenticeships
Pathways Program for first time and experienced managers
Opportunities to train as a Practice Educator
For more information and a discussion about working for London Borough of Islington, contact our Principal Social Worker Wynand McDonald, Principal Child and Family Social Worker at Wynand.mcdonald@islington.gov.uk.