Social Worker - Adoption Tees Valley

Social Worker – Adoption Support

Permanent | 4 days per week (flexible working pattern available)

Adoption Tees Valley | Based in Stockton‑on‑Tees

Are you a passionate, thoughtful and forward‑looking social worker who wants to make a lasting difference to children and families through adoption?

Do you want a role where your experience is valued, your professional judgement is trusted, and your working pattern can flex around your life?

Adoption Tees Valley (ATV) is the Regional Adoption Agency serving the five Local Authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton‑on‑Tees.

Since our establishment in 2018, we have grown into a strong, embedded partnership leading adoption policy, practice and delivery across the Tees Valley. We are proud to be recognised for:

• Excellent timescales for children
• A well‑embedded early permanence approach
• A strong, valued adoption support offer for children, young people, adoptive families and birth families

Our Adoption Support Team is expanding and evolving, with exciting plans to strengthen our core offer and develop a multi‑disciplinary approach to therapeutic and family support.

We are seeking a Social Worker to join our Adoption Support Team, working 4 days per week. The working pattern can be agreed flexibly to support work/life balance.

• Support adoptive families post‑placement
• Coordinate and review therapeutic and support packages
• Work creatively and collaboratively with families and partner agencies
• Contribute to the development of our core adoption support offer
• Play a role in shaping our emerging MDT approach

There will be occasional out‑of‑hours work to support events and group activity, planned in advance wherever possible.

We welcome applications from social workers who:

• Are registered with Social Work England
• Have a minimum of 3 years post‑qualifying experience (as required under Adoption Regulations)
• Have experience in adoption, permanence or children’s social work, or can demonstrate transferable skills from a childcare team
• Are motivated by relationship‑based practice and long‑term outcomes for children
• Want to be part of a regional service that values learning, reflection and innovation

Experience in adoption support is welcomed, but not essential – we are keen to hear from candidates who are interested in developing their expertise in this area with the right support.

Flexibility that works for you

• 4 days per week, with flexibility in how those hours are worked
• A blended approach to office‑based, community and home working
• We trust professionals to work in the way that best supports families

Be part of something bigger

• Regional collaboration across five local authorities
• Opportunity to influence service development and practice
• Work within a stable, experienced and supportive team

Support, development and progression

• Strong professional supervision
• Opportunities to develop specialist adoption support skills
• A service committed to learning and continuous improvement

If you’re looking for a role where you can build meaningful relationships, use your skills creatively, and help shape the future of adoption support, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and help us support children and families to thrive through adoption.

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, so candidates will need to have an existing right to work in the UK.

All applicants must provide valid proof of their right to work in the UK in accordance with Stockton‑on‑Tees Borough Council’s statutory employment checks. Employment cannot commence or continue unless this has been verified.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). Applicants are therefore required to disclose all criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings, including those which would normally be considered spent, subject to the filtering rules applicable under current legislation.