Senior Social Worker (Adoption Recruitment Team) | 10830 | Permanent Contract | Part-Time 22.2 hours per week | £43,822 to £48,227 pro rata, per annum | Grade K | County Hall, Norwich

To manage the recruitment, assessment and approval of prospective adopters, ensuring timely, high‑quality social work practice that secures permanence for children. 

The role involves overseeing complex adoption work, supporting staff performance and development, and ensuring compliance with legislation, policy and adoption standards within the Norfolk Adoption Service and Adopt East partnership.

You need to have experience in and be knowledgeable about adoption related matters including the impact of developmental trauma on children and their families. As a senior you will need to give guidance to colleagues, show initiative in your day to day working and take the lead on projects that arise. You will need to have a keen interest in professional development for the benefit of the children and families with which you will work. 

Key responsibilities are primarily to undertake national family find for children and support Norfolk children placed with adoptive families both within Norfolk and out of county. It would be preferable if you had an ability to undertake direct preparation work with children for their transition to their adoptive family. You will undertake adopter home studies and support adopters through matching and early placement. It is also a requirement to engage with the AdoptEast Alliance and work on practice developments specifically contact for adopted children.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement 
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need. 
• Financial benefits such as:
  • ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.   
  • A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
  • Relocation expenses (where applicable)
  • An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
  • Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.

  • Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

  • Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)

  • A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.  

Redeployment closing date: 6 August 2026 at 23:55

All other applicants closing date: 13 August 2026 at 23:55

nWe have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage.  Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food.  We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk.  Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.

We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.

We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.
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