At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate and secure foster placements for children and young people in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Sutton Council's dedicated Fostering Service team.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience in children's services with potential for career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people through effective placements.
- Qualifications: Experience in placements or children's services, strong communication, and organisational skills.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with opportunities to work collaboratively with social workers and partner agencies.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Sutton Council is seeking an experienced Placement Officer to join its Fostering Service on an initial 3-month contract, supporting the effective placement of children and young people into foster care. This is a fast-paced role requiring excellent coordination skills, sound judgement, and a strong understanding of fostering and placement processes within a local authority setting.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, coordinate, and secure appropriate foster placements for children and young people in line with care plans and statutory requirements.
- Work closely with social workers, fostering teams, providers, and partner agencies to ensure timely and suitable placements.
- Maintain accurate placement records and ensure compliance with internal procedures and regulatory standards.
- Contribute to placement matching, stability planning, and placement reviews.
- Respond to placement requests, including urgent and unplanned placements.
- Support effective communication between internal teams and external fostering providers.
Essential Requirements
- Previous experience working as a Placement Officer or in a similar placements role within Children's Services / Fostering.
- Strong knowledge of fostering placements, safeguarding, and local authority processes.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Experience using local authority case management systems (e.g. Liquidlogic, Mosaic – desirable).
Placement Officer in Sutton Coldfield employer: Adult Social Care
Contact Detail:
Adult Social Care Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Placement Officer in Sutton Coldfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fostering and children's services sector. We all know that sometimes it's not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Placement Officer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of local authority processes and fostering regulations. We want you to be ready to showcase your expertise and how you can contribute to Sutton Council's Fostering Service.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your coordination skills! In this fast-paced role, being able to juggle multiple placements and communicate effectively with social workers and providers is key. We want to see how you can keep everything running smoothly.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. We’re here to support you in your job search, so take advantage of our resources and get that Placement Officer position!
We think you need these skills to ace Placement Officer in Sutton Coldfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Placement Officer role. Highlight your experience in fostering and placements, and don’t forget to mention any relevant local authority processes you’re familiar with.
Showcase Your Skills: In your cover letter, emphasise your coordination skills and ability to work under pressure. We want to see how you’ve successfully managed competing priorities in past roles.
Be Specific About Experience: When detailing your previous roles, be specific about your experience with placement matching and stability planning. Use examples that demonstrate your sound judgement and understanding of fostering processes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adult Social Care
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fostering placements and local authority processes. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced in this role, as well as the statutory requirements that come into play. This will show that you're not just interested in the job, but that you understand the nuances of the field.
✨Showcase Your Coordination Skills
Since this role requires excellent coordination skills, be prepared to discuss examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed multiple priorities. Think about times when you had to juggle urgent requests or coordinate with various teams, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication is key in this position. During the interview, practice clear and concise communication. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer about their current processes or challenges, which can demonstrate your proactive approach and interest in collaboration.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Case Management Systems
If you have experience with local authority case management systems like Liquidlogic or Mosaic, make sure to highlight that. If not, do a bit of research on these systems so you can speak confidently about how you would adapt to using them. Showing that you're tech-savvy can give you an edge!