JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Regional Business Partner
Service: / Adoption Match
Reporting to: / Manager of Adoption Match
Responsible to: / Head of Customer Service, First4Adoption
Relationships and contacts / Potential adopters, CCLC colleagues and teams, Coram staff, and other stakeholders e.g. Department for Education, Local Authorities and Adoption Agencies
Salary: / £26,196.43 (FTE 35 hours)
Contract hours: / One role at 18 hours
Location: / Unit 4, Pavilion Business Park, Royds Hall Road, Wortley, Leeds, LS12 6AJ

About the AdoptionMatch

The Adoption Register is funded by the Department for Education and is run by Adoption Match. This is a national matching service working to match those children waiting to find a permanent family home with those approved adopters waiting to be matched with a child(ren).

Adoption Match is managed by Coram Children’s Legal Centre.

All children who have been approved for adoption for 3 months with no active links being pursued must be referred to the Adoption Register. All adopters who have been approved to adopt for 3 months or more with no active links being pursued and who are in agreement must be referred to the Adoption Register. Both children and adopters can be referred to the Adoption Register immediately upon being approved to be adopted/adopt.

Adoption Match has two main elements. Firstly a computer data system (the Adoption Register run on behalf of the DFE) which both social workers and adopters will have access to enabling them to carry our searches for children or adopters respectively. Secondly Business partners will work in close partnership with Adoption Agencies to assist in carrying out more detailed searches and ensuring those children with more complex matching needs are matched.

Callers to the Adoption Match Adopter helpline (0345 222 9015) can speak to friendly advisers for information about using the service.

Adoption Match works in close partnership with First4Adoption.

We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic and energetic individual to build relationships with stakeholders as required in order to aid the matching process. The post holder will be expected to meet and work closely with representatives from adoption agencies and local authorities to match as many children as possible.

The post holder will provide high quality advice and assistance to service users as to how to give their children/adopters the best chance of success including focusing the matching work for each individual case.

Purpose of Role:

To raise awareness of Adoption Match by working with relevant stakeholders in order to increase the number of matches made.

Undertake a number of administrative duties to assist with the efficient working of Adoption Match. To be lead contact for adopters and practitioners within the regions allocated to you, to provide them with advice and feedback about potential matches and if weren’t successful why.

The post holder will be required to use the Adoption Registerdatabase to carry out searches for families and children. The post holder will be required to use their skills to narrow down any results to ensure the most appropriate links are made.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

•To use the Adoption Register database to generate links between children and adopters.

•To regularly meet and communicate with stakeholders in their specified regions across England to build effective working relationships and increase the number of matches made (this may involve travel, unsociable hours including possible overnight stays away from home).

•To generate and analyse statistical information and reports as required.

•To operate in line with ISO27001 and ISO9001 standards.

•To carry out general administrative tasks as directed by the Adoption Match Manager or the Regional Engagement Manager.

•To cover the reception as required and respond to telephone and email enquiries.

•To participate at Exchange Days by assisting with profiling children awaiting adoption and building relationships with key stakeholders. This will involve unsociable hours including overnight stays away from home or weekend working.

•To ensure feedback is given to adopters particularly where links have not been successful and assist them with improving their profiles.

•To assist in the running and preparation of Adoption Activity Days where necessary. This may involve unsociable hours including overnight stays away from home or weekend working.

•To carry out all tasks within an equal opportunities framework.

•To carry out all other duties that may be required from time to time as directed by the Adoption MatchManager or the Regional Engagement Manager on their behalf.

Communications & PR

•Assist in preparing, drafting and checking the accuracy of various documents and in ensuring consistent use of key messaging and branding.

•Preparation of a regular newsletter and other updates for stakeholders.

Website and social media

•Assist with updating relevant areas of the website where needed

This job description is not exhaustive and as such, the post holder will be expected to be flexible. However, significant changes will only be made following discussions with the post holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

•Minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C and above (must include Mathematics and English).

Experience/Knowledge

•Understanding of the adoption process and regulations.

•Experience of working with key stakeholders including but not limited to adopters, Local Authorities, Adoption Agencies and the Department for Education.

•Experience of providing advice over the phone or in person.

•Demonstrated commitment to providing high level of customer service and quality of information.

Skills and abilities

•Excellent organisational skills and proven ability to prioritise duties to meet deadlines.

•Adaptable.

•Have an eye for detail.

•Excellent written and oral communication skills.

•Strong competence in IT systems including Microsoft Office and knowledge of databases an advantage (basic training available)

•Ability to analyse statistical information.

•Ability to work well as part of a team.

•Presentation skills.

•Ability to produce written communications to a high standard.

Other

•Willingnessas part of this role to undertake other duties from time to time as determined by the Adoption MatchManager or the Regional Engagement Manager.

•Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

•Interest in working in the voluntary sector, with children and families in particular.

•Must be prepared to lone work on occasion if required

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