Social Worker
Southwark Council
Do you see yourself making a lifelong difference in a child’s life through adoption?
Can you use your experience to help create safe, loving, and stable families for children across South London?
Does the idea of joining a forward-thinking and inclusive regional adoption agency inspire you?
If yes, we have the perfect role for you!
At Adopt London South Regional Adoption Agency we are looking for a passionate and dedicated Social Worker to join us and help make a difference today
About the Role:
An opportunity has arisen for a full-time Social Worker to work within Adopt London South. The role could be in any of the three core teams of assessment, family finding or adoption support and you would be required to work in one of these teams, depending on the needs of the service.
The Assessment Team supports prospective adopters from initial enquiry, through their assessments, presentation at panel, and support once a child is placed until the adoption order is granted.
The Family Finding Team helps to ensure that children have the right family for them and supports the matching process. They also work closely with our 10 partners to ensure good and swift outcomes for children and to reduce delay.
The Adoption Support Team supports families post adoption order through a range of targeted activities, 1:1 work and walking alongside families who are experiencing difficulties to help them find sustainable support solutions and works with birth parents to provide sup
A priority for ALS and the LAs is to reduce delay for children, particularly of Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, and especially boys as research shows that this cohort in particular, wait the longest for an adoptive family. ALS has strong links with the Black Adoption Project, We Are Family and New Family Social. There will be be opportunities to work on pan-regionally across London and on other national projects to effect sector-wide improvements.
About You:
We are looking for experienced and committed social workers who are:
- Qualified and have completed their ASYE, with over 2 years’ post ASYE experience.
- Experienced in planning for permanence and interested in adoption or have experience in adoption or other transferable skills.
- Skilled at building positive relationships with diverse families and professional networks.
- Have effective and positive communication skills (both written and face-to-face), work well to timescales, and are analytical.
- Able to balance and manage a broad and varied caseload as well as provide appropriate interventions
- Committed to anti-racist and inclusive practice, with a focus on reducing race disparity in adoption
- Confident using Case Management systems and with adhering to recording policies and guidance
- Knowledgeable in childcare and adoption legislation and statutory guidance
- Open to personal development and keen to develop group work and training skills
- Flexible and able to work to meet the needs of the adoption community.
Experience of, or a good working knowledge of DDP, TLSW, GBB, NVR or other appropriate therapeutic approaches are welcome but not essential.
About the Team:
Adopt London South is a collaborative, child-focused service committed to securing stable, loving adoptive families without delay. The team works across assessment, family finding, and adoption support, ensuring continuity of care from initial enquiry through to post-adoption support. We promote a supportive and inclusive culture, with a strong emphasis on partnership working, particularly to improve outcomes for children from Black and minoritised backgrounds. Staff benefit from opportunities to work pan-regionally, contribute to innovative projects, and engage in continuous professional development, fostering both personal growth and sector-wide improvement
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.
Contact Information:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lake Gledhill, Service Manager at lake.gledhill@southwark.gov.uk
Additional Information:
Must hold a recognised social work qualification
Have a current registration with Social Work England and not be subject to any SWE investigations
Hold or undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at Enhanced Adults’ and Children’s (Barred) level.
Benefits and more information:
https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
Recruitment Timeline:
Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 5th July 2026.
Shortlisting date: Wednesday 8th July 2026.
Interview date: Thursday 16th July 2026.
The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
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 initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
About Southwark:
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises, and we have a young, diverse and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
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