At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the management of referrals and improve placement processes for children's residential services.
- Company: Leading provider of specialist children’s residential services with a focus on quality care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Regular travel across the UK and strong partnerships with local authorities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of residential care.
- Qualifications: Qualified in social work or related field with experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 € per year.
Find out more about the daily tasks, overall responsibilities, and required experience for this opportunity by scrolling down now.
Regular travel across the UK
£70,000 - £75,000 + Bonus
Full Time / Permanent
Compass Associates are working exclusively with a leading provider of specialist children’s residential services to appoint a Head of Commissioning. This newly created position will play a pivotal role in shaping how referrals are managed and converted across the organisation’s national portfolio of homes.
The Role
This is a senior appointment requiring a confident, strategic leader with deep operational knowledge of children’s residential care and a strong understanding of how placements and referrals drive both quality and commercial success.
The successful candidate will be responsible for reviewing, managing and triaging all incoming referrals, ensuring decisions are informed, compliant and child-focused. They will work closely with Registered Managers, Local Authorities and commissioning partners to maintain strong relationships, increase placement conversion and ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end management of referrals, from initial triage to placement decision
- Oversee and improve referral conversion processes to maximise occupancy and service efficiency
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with Local Authorities, social work teams and commissioning bodies
- Ensure all activity complies with children’s homes regulations and relevant legislation
- Analyse referral data and trends, reporting regularly to the senior leadership team
- Support service development through insights, training and continuous improvement initiatives
Candidate Requirements
- Recognised qualification in social work, social care or a related field
- Proven experience within children’s services, ideally with a background in placements, referrals or commissioning
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks for children’s homes
- Excellent communication, analytical and decision-making skills
- Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders
- Experience managing complex referrals and achieving positive outcomes
This role would suit:
A senior social care professional or social work-qualified leader with significant experience managing referrals or placements, who is motivated by improving outcomes for children while supporting organisational growth.
Recommendations:
Compass Associates Ltd are working in partnership on this position. If you are not interested but know someone who is, we offer £200 in vouchers for successful recommendations.
Head of Commissioning - Children\'s Residential Services employer: Compass Associates
As a leading provider of specialist children’s residential services, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the well-being and development of both our employees and the children we serve. With competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional growth, our Head of Commissioning role offers a chance to make a meaningful impact while working alongside dedicated professionals in a dynamic environment across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commissioning - Children\'s Residential Services
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's services sector. Attend relevant events or webinars where you can meet potential employers and showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation's values and recent developments. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their mission and the specific role of Head of Commissioning.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you can improve referral processes and outcomes for children. Use real examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commissioning - Children\'s Residential Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in children's residential services. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Head of Commissioning, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant skills!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a strategic leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to manage teams and influence stakeholders. Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate how you've successfully led initiatives or improved processes in children's services.
Be Data-Driven:Since analysing referral data is part of the job, include any experience you have with data analysis in your application. We love candidates who can use insights to drive decisions, so share how you've used data to achieve positive outcomes in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity as soon as possible!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Associates
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of children’s residential care and the regulatory frameworks involved. Being able to discuss specific legislation and how it impacts referral processes will show that you’re not just familiar with the role, but that you’re genuinely passionate about improving outcomes for children.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Commissioning, you’ll need to demonstrate your strategic leadership abilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you’ve successfully led teams or projects, particularly in managing referrals or placements. This will help illustrate your capability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves working closely with Local Authorities and commissioning partners, think about how you can convey your relationship-building skills. Have anecdotes ready that highlight your ability to maintain strong partnerships and how these have positively impacted service delivery in your previous roles.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to inform decisions in your past roles. The job requires analysing referral data and trends, so showcasing your analytical skills and how they’ve led to improved referral conversion processes will be key to impressing the interviewers.
