At a Glance
- Tasks: Match and commission placements for children and young people in care.
- Company: Essex County Council, dedicated to child welfare and community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a Disability Confident Leader committed to inclusivity and support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience working with children and families, strong communication skills, and IT competence.
The predicted salary is between 34362 - 34362 £ per year.
Placement Officer Permanent, Full Time £29,208 up to £34,362 per annum Location: Chelmsford Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity, and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers, and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.
The Role: The Placement Officer is part of a team working to identify, match and commission suitable in‑house or external placements, care and support packages for children and young people in care and those in need of support or accommodation. The Placement Officer will have extensive contact with children’s social workers, foster carers and other placement providers to ensure placements are identified and well matched, as well as completing the administrative processes associated with placement making.
What you will do:
- Liaise with social workers, foster carers, and placement providers to identify carefully matched placements, care and support packages in accordance with the child/young person’s care plan, that considers the child/young person’s health, education, cultural, ethnic, religious and therapeutic needs.
- To be part of duty rota arrangements both office based and remotely.
- Hold a caseload of placement finding activity, ensuring that identified placements offer the child/young person care and support in a safe and stable environment that complies with all required regulation i.e. Ofsted.
- Responsible for ensuring all relevant documentation i.e. referral, risk assessment, care plan is received from the child/young person’s allocated social worker and as appropriate this is shared with the foster carer/care provider.
- Complete agreed administrative processes, notifications and recordings on placements being made.
- To be part of assigned link for field‑based quadrant office that requires travel to/from another local office.
- Build strong working relationships across the Council, providers, members of other statutory and organisations and voluntary agencies.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
- Educated to RQF level 3 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience.
- Evidence of development within role and knowledge in the relevant professional area.
- Experience of working in a supportive relationship with children, young people, carers and families.
- An awareness of problems and issues that can impact on children and families e.g. trauma, neglect, poverty, bereavement, disability.
- Ability to assess and match children and young people’s needs to appropriate placements, understanding and using risk assessments in placement finding activity, in consultation with senior staff within the Placement Service.
- Experience of collaborating with other professionals and agencies for the benefit of children/young people.
- Competence in the use of all forms of IT and the ability to communicate clearly, both written and verbal.
Disability and Recruitment: Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Background Checks: As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.
EEO Statement: Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Placement Officer in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Counci
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for the Placement Officer role in Chelmsford. With a strong commitment to the development and wellbeing of children and families, employees benefit from a culture of integrity and compassion, alongside opportunities for professional growth and meaningful impact in the community. The council's dedication to inclusivity, including its status as a Disability Confident Leader, ensures that all staff feel valued and empowered in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Placement Officer in Chelmsford
✨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 Essex County Counci.
✨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 Essex County Counci!
✨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 Essex County Counci, 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 Essex County Counci 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 Placement Officer in Chelmsford
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 Essex County Counci:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Essex County Counci! 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 Essex County Counci
✨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.
