Adoption Support Team Manager

Role Responsibility

About the Role

We are seeking an Adoption Support Team Manager to join our creative and forward thinking management group. Within APSE, adoption support teams deliver high quality, post order adoption support to children and families across our region.

Our service is multi disciplinary, bringing together social workers, senior practitioners, and senior therapists who work systemically and therapeutically with families. 

We are looking for a manager with strong experience in systemic and therapeutic approaches, who can confidently lead a team in delivering meaningful, relationship based support. APSE is committed to embedding Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) across our service, and the successful candidate will contribute to the development of a DDP informed culture.

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What We’re Looking For

•    Inspirational leadership with previous management experience and the ability to motivate, support, and develop a team.

•    Experience of working therapeutically and systemically with children and families, with a commitment to trauma informed practice.

•    Enthusiasm for collaborative working across three local authorities and with partners across statutory, voluntary, and health sectors.

•    Strong understanding of childcare legislation, safeguarding, and relevant statutory guidance.

•    Ability to provide clear analysis, confident decision making, and high quality written and verbal communication.

•    Competence in working with case management systems and ensuring accurate, high quality management information.

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About You

You will hold a recognised social work qualification (CQSW, DipSW, or equivalent), be registered with Social Work England, and bring substantial post qualification experience. You will have worked in adoption, permanency planning, or related children’s services and be confident in supervising staff, managing risk, and contributing to practice development.

Your leadership style will reflect strong values, a commitment to relational practice, and the ability to nurture a positive, reflective, and high performing team culture.

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What We Offer

•    Competitive salary

•    £3,000 annual retention payment (after qualifying period)

•    £2,000 car allowance

•    Generous local government pension scheme

•    The chance to contribute to a pioneering, innovative adoption support service

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

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Interviews: 11th March 2026

Contact Details

For further information please contact Rachel Dobson (Service Manager) via Rachel.Dobson@Kent.gov.uk 

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.