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- Tasks: Source and manage placements for children in care, ensuring their safety and well-being.
- Company: Join Bedford Borough Council's dedicated Children's Services team.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, meaningful work, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and impact.
- Why this job: Support vulnerable children and young people while developing your skills in social care.
- Qualifications: Experience in placement commissioning and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Bedford Borough Council is seeking an experienced and highly organised Placement Officer to join our Children’s Services team on an initial 3-month contract. This is a key role within a high-profile area of children’s social care, responsible for sourcing, securing, and managing high-quality placements for children looked after and care leavers, including those with complex and high-level needs. You will play a vital role in ensuring children and young people are placed in safe, suitable, and well-matched placements, while working collaboratively with internal teams and external providers to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on searching for, sourcing, and securing suitable placements for children looked after and care leavers, including complex cases
- Manage placement searches from referral through to placement confirmation
- Quality assure placement referral forms and provider documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance
- Verify provider registration and highlight any compliance concerns
- Negotiate placement packages, terms, and costs with external providers
- Work closely with social work teams, particularly fostering services, to ensure internal options are fully explored
- Manage and maintain placement databases, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information
- Develop and improve systems for effective data use across the wider council
- Contribute to commissioning activity including tendering, framework development, evaluation, and monitoring
- Produce and analyse management information, financial data, and performance reports
- Attend placement/resource panels and contribute to decision‑making processes
- Manage respite placement requests for in-house foster carers
- Oversee payment processes to external providers and respond to financial queries
- Ensure clear, professional, and confidential communication with all stakeholders
About You
- Experience in placement commissioning, brokerage, or children’s social care placements
- Strong knowledge of children looked after systems and care leaver pathways
- Experience working with external providers, fostering services, or social work teams
- Confidence in negotiation, costing, and contract/package management
- Strong analytical skills with experience handling data, reporting, and management information systems
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
- A high level of accuracy, compliance awareness, and attention to detail
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion
This is an excellent opportunity to join a busy and impactful children’s services team, supporting some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the local authority system.
Placements Officer in Cranfield employer: Service Care Solutions
Contact Detail:
Service Care Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Placements Officer in Cranfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in children's services or social care. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Bedford Borough Council and their approach to children's services. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Placement Officer, you'll need to negotiate with external providers. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to build your confidence.
✨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 take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Placements Officer in Cranfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in placement commissioning and children’s social care. We want to see how your skills match the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Organisational Skills: As a Placement Officer, being organised is key! Use your application to demonstrate how you manage competing priorities and ensure accuracy in your work. Share examples that reflect your strong attention to detail.
Highlight Your Communication Skills: We need someone who can communicate clearly and professionally with various stakeholders. In your application, mention any experiences where you’ve successfully handled sensitive information or negotiated with external providers.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this impactful role in our Children’s Services team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Service Care Solutions
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of children looked after systems and care leaver pathways. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of a Placement Officer, as well as any recent developments in children's social care. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also committed to making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your experience in placement commissioning or brokerage. Think about times when you've successfully negotiated terms with external providers or managed complex cases. This will help you illustrate your skills and how they align with what the council is looking for.
✨Be Data Savvy
Since the role involves handling data and producing reports, be ready to discuss your analytical skills. Bring examples of how you've used data to inform decisions or improve processes in previous roles. This will highlight your ability to manage placement databases and contribute to effective data use across the council.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are essential for this role, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly and professionally. Be prepared to discuss how you handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality. This will reassure the interviewers that you can communicate effectively with all stakeholders involved.