Placement and Assessment Manager (Hybrid: Home, Chester/Preston) Embrace Care

Salary: £35,000 to £40,000 per year

Job type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: This role offers a blend of home working and on-site attendance at our Chester and Preston headquarters.

We are excited to recruit for a newly created role at Embrace Care: Placement and Assessment Manager. This role has been introduced to strengthen our referral management, assessment processes and partnership development as we continue to grow our children’s residential homes, transitional services and specialist support for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional from children’s residential care, adult social care or complex needs services who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels in assessments of need, and builds strong relationships with Local Authorities, commissioners and social care teams. This role is central to managing referrals, completing high-quality assessments, supporting therapeutic and trauma-informed practice, and ensuring well-matched placements across Embrace Care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading referral management for children’s homes, transitional services and The Retreat
• Building strong partnerships with Local Authorities, commissioners and placement teams
• Managing the referral inbox and responding promptly to new enquiries
• Completing full assessments of need, compatibility and risk
• Coordinating assessment meetings with Registered Managers and the Therapeutic Lead
• Supporting environmental adaptations, staffing considerations and placement planning
• Identifying early indicators of placement strain or changing needs
• Using market intelligence to support growth, tenders and business development
• Ensuring assessment work is aligned with safeguarding, Ofsted and CQC standards
• Maintaining accurate documentation, tracking referral activity and identifying themes
• Contributing to reflective practice and therapeutic discussions

Essential experience and qualifications:

• Significant experience within a residential care setting regulated by Ofsted or CQC
• Qualified Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent
• Strong experience completing assessments and identifying needs, risks and compatibility
• Experience working in a commercially driven, fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment and relational needs
• Ability to manage relationships with commissioning teams and external partners
• Highly organised with excellent IT skills

Desirable experience:

• Experience in residential children’s homes or transitional services
• Knowledge of procurement portals, tenders and commissioning frameworks
• Experience interpreting referral trends and contributing to service development
• Strong understanding of therapeutic, trauma-informed and relational approaches
• Experience supporting reflective practice and assessment-based decision making

About Embrace Care:

Embrace Care provides high-quality residential, transitional and therapeutic services for children, young people and adults with complex needs, learning disabilities and trauma histories. We are committed to delivering trauma-informed, person-centred and relationship-based care. This new role has been created to support the continued growth and development of our services.

Safer Recruitment: All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and full safer recruitment procedures. At this time, Embrace Care is not in a position to provide visa sponsorship, so we are only able to consider applications from individuals who already have the right to work in the UK.

How to apply: Apply with your CV today. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to arrange an interview. We welcome applicants who wish to discuss the role informally after applying.