Assistant Team Manager Keeping In Touch Team

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the continued development of Adopt Thames Valley (ATV) Regional Adoption Agency. ATV launched in December 2017 and is the shared Adoption Service for Bracknell Forest, Oxfordshire, Reading Borough Council (Brighter Futures for Children), The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (Achieving for Children), Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

The Regional Adoption Agency is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council and so your contract and work conditions will sit within Oxfordshire County Council.

The Permanence Support Team is a specialist team providing post-order support to adopters, Special Guardians, and their children, adults affected by adoption, and to birth families. The team is very friendly and supportive, as well as being hard‑working and very committed to adoption work. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in adoption and permanence to further their career and specialism.

You will be joining a supportive team of aspirational, creative and committed Social Workers who strive to provide the best possible outcomes for adopted and Special Guardianship children. This role will be specifically within the Keeping in Touch area of the service and will be managing and supporting contact between adopted children and their birth families.

• To assist the Team Managers in the operational management of the team, ensuring the highest standards of service are provided.
• To ensure that services to users are delivered and developed according to Adopt Thames Valley policies, procedures and guidance.
• To ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way that maximises participation and reflects Children’s Rights in relation to services being provided and in the way that Children, Young People and Families are worked with.
• To provide case supervision to social workers.
• Tosupportand advise on post adoption contact.

This post holder is responsible for ensuring that Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are adhered to and concerns are raised in accordance with these policies.

Are you a passionate, qualified Social Worker with experience of adoption and Team Management, or have the skill set to move into Team Management? Are you interested in different ways of working in this field?

We are ideally seeking an Assistant Team Manager with at least three years post‑qualifying experience in adoption and with relevant work settings, such as within Children’s Services or Family Placement, and who has excellent assessment, analytical and report writing skills. Experience of supervising or mentoring staff within this setting will be beneficial.

The applicant will need to demonstrate that they have a good understanding of the needs of adoptive families, and that they are keen to develop their knowledge and skills further. The successful applicant also needs to be computer literate.

As part of our team, you’ll benefit from

• Vivup benefits platform
• Vivup highfive recognition platform
• Cycle scheme (for eco‑conscious commuters)
• Electric vehicle lease scheme
• Discounts at local retailers
• Salary finance options
• Up to 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays)
• A competitive 19.9% employer pension contribution rate

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also…