Why work for us?

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Adoption Matters is one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies and children’s charities in the UK. Anyone who joins Adoption Matters as a member of staff automatically becomes part of our valued team.  Many staff choose to continue their personal and career development with us and we are proud of our staff retention record, with some staff staying with us for 20, 30 years and above, our longest serving member of staff joined us over 40 years ago.

“After the recruitment process and interview, I really appreciated the level of support I was offered, I was given time to think and offered the opportunity to speak to another worker in a similar role. I felt that I wouldn’t be seen as just another employee added to the payroll, but as an individual, the manager cared about me.” New member of staff.

If you are interested in working for us, please email our HR team with your contact details at: hr@adoptionmatters.org 

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Our values

Honest and fair – We undertake to treat every case fairly on its individual merits and to be honest and realistic in all our communications.
Inclusive – We strive to ensure equality of opportunity, both for our adoptive families and amongst our staff and Trustees regardless of gender, race, religion, culture, heritage, age, disability or sexuality.
Flexible – We aim to continually develop and improve our services and increase engagement with our service users, using their feedback and suggestions to inform future developments.
Ethical – We maintain strong family values and a compassionate, empathetic approach within all the work we do, embracing equally those who have religious beliefs of any denomination and those who do not.
Celebrating difference – We work within a culture of respect and acceptance, treating everyone who engages with the agency fairly, professionally and with respect to people’s right to confidentiality.

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What we offer:

  • Members of the Local Government Pension Scheme
  • All new social work staff are allocated a peer mentor who they can talk to and who can support and guide them the agencies processes and procedures
  • Generous Holidays – starting at 24 days a year (pro rata), plus public holidays; and a Long Service Holiday Award of a further 5 days after 5 years’ service (pro rata)
  • A discretional paid shutdown period usually at the end of year.
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 Wellbeing Support
  • One paid monthly Wellbeing Hour
  • Free on-site car parking
  • Flexible working including hybrid working arrangement which usually allows working from home on occasions/ use of Flexi Time & a Time off in Lieu scheme
  • Team away days, social events & well-being activities
  • Regular training opportunities
  • The latest IT infrastructure, equipment and support

Your development:

  • Secondments
  • Supportive reflection
  • Opportunities for personal growth & development
  • Multidisciplinary initiatives

The opportunity to make a difference, feel valued and achieve the job satisfaction you’ve always wanted. Our staff have been involved in national initiatives such as the national YouCanAdopt recruitment campaign, are members of the national adoption recruitment steering group, the CoramBAAF Black Minority Ethnic Perspectives Advisory Committee to name a few.

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Our Wellbeing Pledge

We believe that everyone in Adoption Matters should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible standard of wellbeing and mental health.

We will promote a collaborative culture which encourages contribution and reflection from all colleagues across the organisation in order to ensure that Adoption Matters continues to be a caring and supportive employer when making any changes.

We commit to reflect on personal behaviours and organisational practices and policies that will improve the workplace environment and create a wellbeing culture.

We will support and encourage our colleagues to make positive choices for their own wellbeing. Adoption Matters is committed to enhancing the personal growth of everyone within the organisation, and for those we work with. We therefore strive to embrace the principles of Nurtured Heart with absolute clarity by refusing to energise negativity and instead aim to focus our energy on recognising and celebrating each other’s strengths, skills and successes.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Our values are honesty and fairness, inclusivity, flexibility, ethically based and celebrating difference. We believe that our organisation should reflect and represent the full richness of human diversity in terms of background, identity, ability and circumstance. As groups of people currently under-represented as Adoption Matters employees, we are particularly keen to receive job applications if you are Black, Asian or  from another ethnic background, have a disability or have personal experience of the care system and/or adoption. We will be measuring our success in redressing this.

We are open to discussion of any adjustments or any flexible arrangements our employees may need to achieve their full potential.

We promise the only thing we assess within job applications is how a person demonstrates their suitability for the job, and nothing else.

 

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What Ofsted say about us:

Rated Outstanding by Ofsted since 2008, our latest report states:

  • The staff team is passionate, committed and child-centred and staff said that they feel very connected to Adoption Matters.
  • Adoption Matters is ambitious and there is a strong appetite for continued innovation to ensure that the agency continues to meet the needs of the children waiting for adoptive families.
  • Adoption Matters is a learning organisation, using feedback and challenge to drive forward improvement.
  • The agency’s commitment to inclusivity is also evident, ensuring that potential applicants are confident to proceed to the next step with the agency.
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Feedback from a Social Worker

“Adoption Matters value you as a person and not a number through enabling a really friendly and supportive workplace; because of this I feel it is a unique and special place to work.

Adoption Matters have a wellbeing working group that prioritises staff’s wellbeing with members throughout the organisation in differing roles, ensuring everyone’s experiences can be represented.

I am utilising my agreed flexible working request through compressed hours and also using the monthly wellbeing hour. This has had a significant and positive impact on my wellbeing. I have used my wellbeing hour for self-care such as fitness classes, squeezing in a haircut mid-week and a mid-week lie in. Then, by working my contracted compressed hours over a 4 day week, this allows me to have a day off mid-week.

Adoption Matters also promotes flexibility in working and Toil by recognising benefits this brings within the working week.”

Social Worker feedback after 4 and half years service with Adoption Matters

What other members of our team have shared about Adoption Matters:

“I noticed how much support is offered to your adopters and thought that would bode well as an employee too, I felt that I would be looked after as an individual.”

“The Ofsted rating encouraged me to apply, you don’t get that for no reason.”

“It’s such family atmosphere, we all have the same goals of wanting to help children and families, everyone is so passionate, it’s a great place to work.”

Feedback from our team during Covid-19:

“Personally I have been blown away by how diligent, professional but also personal the responses has been from management at all levels. Communication has been excellent throughout. The use of IT has reduced the feelings of isolation and enabled us all to get as close to colleagues visually in a safe way. I have also been so impressed by the responses of everyone in the organisation working to keep going in very difficult times.”

“I think I am blessed to be part of a lovely organisation where management are supportive and listen to what is being shared. We have the best kind, genuine leadership.”

“Just to thank you for being so flexible and supportive during a very frightening time. I know whatever happens moving forward you will have thought it out thoroughly and we all appreciate that.”

 

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A thank you from Emma, adopted adult

“But it’s for my childhood that I’m most grateful. For the summer holidays and walks to pick blackberries. For learning to swim and play music. And that is because of the wonderful people that you chose to adopt me”. Emma

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