At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to secure loving homes for children in care and improve their lives.
- Company: Join Barnsley Council, an award-winning employer dedicated to community impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive pay, excellent pension, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace that values diversity and supports personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's services and strong leadership abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Directorate: Children's Services | Service: Commissioning Teams
Working Arrangements: Hybrid 3 days per week in the office
Contract type: Permanent
This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check. If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years, please be aware that if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.
Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances for those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.
At Barnsley Council, you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be. We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.
About the Post
The right home, at the right time, can change a child’s life. Help us make that happen. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued and supported — especially those in our care. We are looking for a passionate and committed Placements Team Manager to lead our approach to finding and securing the best possible homes for children in care. This is a role where your leadership will directly impact children’s lives — ensuring they are truly supported to thrive.
About the Role
As Placements Team Manager, you will lead the service responsible for identifying and securing homes for children in care — playing a vital role in delivering our sufficiency strategy and improving outcomes for children and young people. This is a fast-paced, high-impact role at the centre of children’s commissioning, where good decisions really matter.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee home finding activity – working closely with social care, providers and partners to secure the best possible homes.
- Build strong relationships with providers – fostering collaboration with fostering agencies, residential homes and carers to improve quality and choice.
- Champion quality and consistency – contributing to quality assurance and improvement activity across placements.
- Lead and support your team – creating a positive, motivated environment where staff are supported to deliver their best work.
- Make best use of resources – overseeing placement spend, monitoring budgets and ensuring value for money while always prioritising children’s needs.
- Use data to make better decisions – analysing placement trends, performance and demand to continuously improve how we work.
Requirements:
- Have experience in children’s services, placements or commissioning.
- Understand the importance of stability, matching and quality in children in care placements.
- Have a good understanding of due diligence for children in care and a sound understanding of Ofsted regulations and inspection outcomes.
- Be a confident leader of people, able to support, motivate and develop a team.
- Be skilled in building relationships with partners, providers and colleagues across services.
- Bring strong financial awareness, with experience managing or influencing placement budgets.
- Be able to balance compassion with challenge, making decisions that are in the best interests of children.
- Stay calm and focused in a busy, high-pressure environment.
Why Join Us:
- Deeply committed to improving outcomes for children in care.
- Focused on working together across services to get the best results.
- Supportive, inclusive and values-led in everything we do.
- Ambitious about creating a stronger, more responsive home-finding system.
In this role, you will:
- Make a real, visible difference to children’s lives every day.
- Help shape how we deliver placements now and in the future.
- Be part of a service that is continually learning and improving.
Ready to make a difference? If you want to lead a service that sits at the heart of children’s care — where your work directly shapes children’s experiences and futures — we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help us ensure every child has a place they can call home.
Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities. We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know. CV's are not accepted for this role. At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate.
Placements Manager in Barnsley employer: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley Council is an award-winning employer dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of children and families within the community. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development, we foster a supportive and inclusive work culture that empowers our staff to thrive. Join us in a role where your leadership will directly impact children's futures, all while enjoying competitive pay and an excellent pension scheme.
Contact Details:
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Placements Manager in Barnsley
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Placements Manager in Barnsley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
