Job Title: Placements & Business Support Officer
Reports To: Registered Manager and Senior Management Team
Hours: 9:30-5:30
Employment Type: Full-time
Main Purpose
- To provide an efficient, organised and responsive placements and administrative service to the fostering agency.
- Support the identification, coordination and administration of foster placements, ensuring that placement enquiries and referrals are responded to promptly and that relevant information is accurately recorded, shared and maintained.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in accordance with regulatory and organisational requirements including compliance checks and key performance indicators.
- Collate and analyse feedback from children’s activities, applicants, foster carers, supervising social workers and fostering panel members. Produce evaluation reports, identify trends and areas for improvement, and make recommendations for remedial action where necessary and service development.
- Assist with the recruitment of foster carers, by producing marketing materials and implementing Social Media Campaigns.
Placements Coordination
- 1. Manage and coordinate placement enquiries and referrals from Local Authorities.
- 2. Maintain accurate records of referrals, placement decisions, vacancies and foster carer availability.
- 3. Support the matching process by identifying potential fostering households and coordinating communications between all parties.
- 4. Monitor placement capacity and produce information to support placement planning and decision-making.
- 5. Ensure placement information is communicated accurately and promptly to relevant staff and foster carers.
Compliance and Quality Assurance
- 6. Maintain accurate records in line with regulatory, organisational and safeguarding requirements.
- 7. Monitor key compliance activities, including DBS renewals, training, medicals, health and safety checks, statutory visits and Looked After Reviews.
- 8. Maintain compliance trackers and elevate overdue actions appropriately.
- 9. Assist with audits, Ofsted inspections and quality assurance activities.
- 10. Support continuous service improvement through effective monitoring and reporting.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- 11. Maintain agency databases, spreadsheets and electronic recording systems.
- 12. Collect, analyse and evaluate feedback from foster carers, children, applicants, supervising social workers and fostering panel members.
- 13. Produce reports identifying trends, strengths, areas for development and recommendations for service improvement.
- 14. Provide regular management information relating to placements, compliance and agency performance.
Foster Carer Support
- 15. Provide administrative support and guidance to foster carers.
- 16. Ensure carers receive important information, documentation and updates in a timely manner.
- 17. Respond to enquiries professionally and escalate concerns where appropriate.
- 18. Support the smooth administration of placements throughout their lifecycle.
Marketing and Recruitment
- 19. Assist with the recruitment of foster carers through digital and community-based marketing initiatives.
- 20. Create and distribute promotional materials and social media content.
- 21. Support recruitment campaigns, events and awareness activities designed to raise the agency's profile.
- 22. Monitor campaign effectiveness and contribute ideas for increasing engagement and enquiries
Business and Administrative Support
- 23. Provide comprehensive administrative support to the management and social work team.
- 24. Prepare reports, agendas, correspondence and presentation materials.
- 25. Organise meetings and take detailed, accurate minutes.
- 26. Maintain electronic filing systems and ensure records are managed effectively.
- 27. Support the administration of children's savings records and placement-related financial information.
Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Information Governance
- 28. Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- 29. Ensure safeguarding concerns are recorded accurately and reported immediately.
- 30. Maintain strict confidentiality and comply with GDPR and Data Protection requirements.
- 31. Ensure information is shared appropriately and securely in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- 32. Any other duties required by agency management.
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience in an administrative, business support or coordination role.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic record-keeping systems.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Experience in handling confidential and sensitive information.
- Professional and confident approach when communicating with external professionals and stakeholders.
- An understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of promoting children's welfare.
- A commitment to promoting anti-discriminatory practice.
Desirable
- Experience within fostering, children's social care or a Local Authority environment.
- Understanding of foster placement processes and placement matching.
- Knowledge of fostering regulations, National Minimum Standards and Ofsted requirements.
- Experience of compliance monitoring and quality assurance activities.
- Experience producing reports and analysing performance data.
- Experience creating social media content and coordinating marketing campaigns.
