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Adoption Social Worker – Recruitment & Assessment

Employer: Liverpool City Council

Location: Edge Hill Customer Resource Centre, 80–82 Wavertree Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, England

Salary: £41,177–£53,051 per year

Employment: Permanent, full-time

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Job Grade: Grade 7–8

Job Reference: liverpoolcitycouncil/TP/691/2229

Visa Sponsorship: Subject to UK Home Office eligibility

Application Deadline: September 27, 2026, at midnight

If you’re a qualified social worker with experience supporting children and families, Liverpool City Council has an opportunity to consider in its Adoption in Merseyside service. The council is recruiting an Adoption Social Worker to join its Recruitment & Assessment Team, helping children find safe, stable, and supportive adoptive homes.

The permanent position offers an annual salary of £41,177 to £53,051, depending on the applicable grade, and a 35-hour working week. You’ll work with children, prospective adopters, families, and partner agencies across Merseyside. The council also offers a range of employee benefits, including annual leave, pension membership, training, and wellbeing support.

Visa sponsorship may be an option for applicants who meet the relevant UK immigration requirements. However, sponsorship isn’t guaranteed for every applicant. If you’re applying from outside the UK, check your eligibility for the Skilled Worker route before submitting your application.

About the Role

This position sits within Adoption in Merseyside (AiM), a regional adoption agency serving four local authorities: Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, and Wirral. The successful candidate will be seconded to Knowsley, which acts as the host authority for this role.

Adoption in Merseyside provides services to help children find permanent family homes. Its work includes recruiting prospective adopters, preparing and assessing applicants, matching children with families, and providing ongoing support after adoption.

You’ll join the Recruitment & Assessment Team, which handles the early stages of the adoption journey as well as matching and support. Your work will involve building relationships, assessing individual circumstances, and helping children and prospective adoptive families navigate important decisions.

Liverpool City Council’s Children’s Services works under its practice model, “Our City, Our Children, Together.” This approach emphasizes collaboration between children, parents, carers, social workers, and partner organizations, with a focus on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

Primary Responsibilities

As an Adoption Social Worker, you’ll contribute to the delivery of adoption services and help ensure children receive appropriate care and support. Your responsibilities will include:

• Support the recruitment of prospective adoptive parents.
• Prepare and assess prospective adopters for the adoption process.
• Contribute to matching children with suitable adoptive families.
• Provide advice, information, and practical support to prospective adopters.
• Carry out direct work with children, young people, and families.
• Help deliver preparation sessions, training, and group support for adopters.
• Build effective relationships with children, parents, carers, and partner agencies.
• Apply relevant safeguarding legislation and adoption regulations.
• Use appropriate intervention techniques to address individual needs.
• Work with colleagues and multi-agency partners across Merseyside.
• Contribute to timely interventions and effective adoption support.
• Help children grow up safely and reach their full potential.

Qualifications and Experience

This position is intended for qualified social workers with experience in children’s social care. The employer identifies the following requirements:

• A recognized social work qualification.
• Active registration with Social Work England (SWE).
• Experience working as a social worker in children’s social care.
• A sound understanding of children’s safeguarding legislation.
• Knowledge of adoption legislation, statutory guidance, regulations, and procedures.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience carrying out direct work with children and families.
• Knowledge of intervention techniques and approaches to supporting families.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple agencies and professional partners.

Previous adoption experience is preferred. If you’ve worked in children’s services but haven’t specialized in adoption, carefully explain how your safeguarding, assessment, family support, and direct-work experience relates to the position.

You’ll also need to demonstrate that you can apply professional judgment, communicate sensitively, and work collaboratively when supporting children and families through complex circumstances.

Salary and Benefits

The advertised salary is £41,177–£53,051 per year. The vacancy is graded between Grade 7 and Grade 8, so confirm the applicable salary point with the recruitment team.

The council’s advertised employee benefits include:

• Annual leave: At least 27 days, plus bank holidays.
• Additional leave: Annual leave entitlement rises to 32 days after five years of service, with the applicable terms.
• Holiday purchase: Option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Pension: Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, with an option to join the AVC Scheme.
• Flexible working: Agile working where the role allows, under the council’s “Flexibility First” approach.
• Training and development: Access to learning opportunities and career progression.
• Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and other health and wellbeing support.
• Travel benefits: Cycle to Work and Travel Pass schemes.
• Car scheme: Drive Time salary-sacrifice car lease scheme.
• Family support: Family-friendly policies with enhanced leave.
• Other benefits: Discounted gym memberships, employee volunteering, and Medicash.

These benefits are subject to the council’s employment terms and the conditions applicable to the successful candidate.

Visa Sponsorship and Eligibility

Liverpool City Council states that applicants must either have the right to work in the UK before starting employment or meet the Home Office requirements for visa sponsorship.

This means international applicants should check whether they qualify for the relevant immigration route. The vacancy does not guarantee sponsorship to every overseas applicant, and meeting the job requirements doesn’t automatically establish immigration eligibility.

If you need sponsorship, check the current Skilled Worker visa requirements and discuss your circumstances with the council before making relocation plans. You should confirm whether the position can be sponsored in your case and what documents you’ll need.

The council verifies applicants’ right to work during the final stages of recruitment. Make sure you understand the relevant requirements before accepting an offer.

Job Snapshot

Who Should Apply?

This role is suited to registered social workers who have experience supporting children and families and understand the responsibilities involved in safeguarding and adoption work.

You may be a good match if you’ve completed assessments, worked directly with children, supported families through challenging circumstances, or collaborated with other professionals to develop care plans and interventions.

Applicants with previous adoption experience should highlight their work in adopter recruitment, preparation, assessment, matching, or post-adoption support. If your experience comes from another area of children’s social care, focus on the transferable skills that meet the job’s requirements.

You’ll need to be comfortable building trusting relationships, handling sensitive information, and working with several agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children.

Application Timeline

The council may close the vacancy before the advertised deadline if it receives enough applications. Submit your application as early as possible rather than waiting until the final day.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through Liverpool City Council’s recruitment system. Use the official vacancy link below to access the application page and follow the instructions provided.

Make sure your application clearly explains your social work qualification, Social Work England registration, and experience in children’s social care. Include relevant examples of safeguarding, assessment, direct work, and partnership working.

If you require visa sponsorship, review the Skilled Worker eligibility criteria and confirm your situation with the recruitment team. Complete your profile, employment history, and education history in the application system.

For an informal discussion about the role, contact Elaine Jamieson, Recruitment and Assessment Team Manager, Adoption in Merseyside, at elaine.jamieson@adoptioninmerseyside.co.uk.

Before submitting your application, confirm that your qualifications and Social Work England registration meet the requirements. If you’re applying from overseas, check your visa eligibility and clarify sponsorship arrangements with the employer.

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