MODERN ADOPTION CONTACT PROJECT WORKER

About The Service

The National Adoption Service for Wales is a collaboration for the provision of adoption services across Wales. It brings together all local authority adoption services into five regional collaboratives, with co-ordination and leadership provided by a small central team and Director of Operations. Voluntary adoption agencies operating in Wales are important partners in the collaborative, as are other agencies such as health and education.

Central team staff are employed by Cardiff Council.

About the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the development and implementation of an approach to contact for children placed for adoption with their birth families and significant others. This work has been shaped in collaboration with all organisations within the National Adoption Service (NAS) and is grounded in the Welsh legislative context. It will particularly appeal to practitioners with experience in planning, supporting and reviewing adoption and contact arrangements, as well as those who have contributed to related development work.

Rooted in the principle that maintaining relationships and a sense of identity is vital for all adopted children, we are keen to encourage innovation and creativity to ensure that contact arrangements remain child-centred and responsive to individual needs. As part of the ongoing modernisation of adoption services in Wales—and with a growing number of children having plans for direct contact—this is a pivotal time for both adoption and children’s services. There is a clear need to strengthen and develop support for these arrangements as children grow and their needs evolve.

We are seeking applications from experienced practitioners who have a strong understanding of adoption services and care planning, and who can build effective working relationships with a wide range of professionals and agencies. Linked to the NAS Central Team in Cardiff but working across Wales with regional teams, local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies, the successful post holder will play a key role in supporting regional implementation of new and ongoing arrangements

What We Are Looking For From You

This temporary part-time post, for 24 months, will provide an exciting career progression/opportunity for a senior practitioner to lead and develop contact for children placed for adoption across Wales. You will be based within the Central Team and will work closely with the Adoption Support Development Manager and Head of Policy, Practice & Communication. A secondment may be considered for a successful applicant currently working within Welsh local authorities/adoption regions and other organisations that are part of the NAS collaborative.

Additional information

This post has a requirement for registration with Social Care Wales.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well-being, and acknowledge that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This is supported in the general ethos of the Council and all schools.

This post is temporary until 30.09.2028.

Internal candidates who wish to apply for this position on a secondment basis must obtain approval prior to application using Form SEC1 (4.C.081). Requests may only be approved by the relevant Director/ Assistant Director/ Chief Officer or senior nominated officer graded no lower than OM2 or in the case of schools based staff the Headteacher /Governing Body.

This post is part time and will work 18.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. The salary shown however relates to 37 hours per week and will therefore be pro-rata'd accordingly.

We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.

We understand you might use AI and other resources for your application;
however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate,