Assessing Social Worker

As a non-for-profit organisation, Barnardo's puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about adoption as we are.
As a self-employed worker with Barnardo's, you will be a part of our amazing team of professionals working with our organisational values at the heart of their everyday practice. You can review our values here: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/our-basis-and-values 

We are recruiting registered social workers to undertake Adoption Assessments on an independent basis. This is a home working role, combined with face-to-face visits to families where you'll carry out robust and thorough assessment, present to panel and where possible ongoing support throughout family finding and to the point of adoption order being granted. Our service is Scotland wide so would be able to accept applicants from across Scotland.

Experience of assessing prospective foster carers or adopters is desirable. 
 

Key Duties for Assessors include:
• To undertake and complete Adoption assessments in the timescale agreed.
• To visit personal referees as identified on application form for prospective adopters virtual visits or in person where required.
• To provide to the supervisor regular written or verbal updates of the draft assessment.
• To liaise with our administrative team concerning the progress of administrative checks and completion of the work.
• To be available for supervision, consultation or liaison as required.
• To be available to present completed assessments to the panel and provide support to the applicants through this process.

Please fill in the application or send CV and covering letter to jennie.potter@barnardos.org.uk 

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.   More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

• Reference number:22481
• Job Title:Assessing Social Worker
• Location:Scotland
• Locality:Scotland
• Contract type:As & When
• Hours:0
• Salary:£18.93 per hour
• Closing Date:31 March 2026