Placement Officer

We are working closely alongside a Local Authority in Islington to assist with the appointment of a Placement Officer, on a 115-month contract, likely to be extended at clients discretion. Please apply with your CV for immediate consideration.

Rate of Pay: £174.28 - £232.89 per day

Summary:

Islington Council is seeking an experienced Placement Officer to join its Children Placements Team. The role involves commissioning placements for children and young people looked after by the Local Authority, matching individual needs to suitable services, managing contracts, negotiating costs and ensuring quality, safeguarding and value for money. Candidates must have direct experience in children's placements commissioning; general social work or personal adviser experience alone is not sufficient.

Responsibilities:

• Assess children's placement needs and match them with appropriate services and providers.
• Manage end-to-end placement commissioning, including contract management, financial management and cost negotiations.
• Work with social workers and team managers to ensure care plans inform placement decisions.
• Review placement quality, monitor provider performance and address safeguarding or regulatory concerns.
• Assess referrals and placement specifications to ensure compliance with commissioning standards.

Qualifications:

• A commissioning-related qualification, such as MCIPS, or relevant experience in commissioning, purchasing and contracting within children's services.

Essential Requirements:

• Significant direct experience in children's placements or brokerage commissioning.
• Knowledge or experience of statutory children's social work, including looked-after children and/or care leavers.
• Experience assessing risk and managing plans to safeguard children.
• Knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and regulations.
• Understanding of how care outcomes inform placement procurement and monitoring.
• Experience with contract management, financial negotiations and external placement providers.

Please note:

• You should be available to work immediately or at a short notice.
• You should have right to work in U.K
• This role requires an Enhanced DBS

Disclaimer: Brackenberry Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Unless otherwise stated all of our roles are temporary, though assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary. Your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.

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