At a Glance
- Tasks: Help vulnerable children find safe, high-quality accommodation and support services.
- Company: Birmingham Children's Trust, dedicated to improving lives of children and families.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, free parking, and employee benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for career development and supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills, analytical mindset, and a proactive approach.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Birmingham Children's Trust is responsible for ensuring vulnerable young people in our care — and those leaving care — have access to safe, high‑quality accommodation and the support they need to thrive. To achieve this, The Placements Commissioning Team must commission services that deliver value for money, meet quality standards, and maintain accurate placement records so we can plan effectively for future demand. As a Commissioning Officer, you will be part of a busy placements commissioning team. Alongside contributing to duty cover (up to one day per week) and wider commissioning tasks, you will take a lead role in ensuring we have the right accommodation options for specific cohorts of young people.
Key Responsibilities
- Working closely with providers to secure sufficient, appropriate placements that meet identified needs
- Collaborating with providers, young people and social workers to ensure placements offer good quality and value for money
- Onboarding new provision that can meet need and health and safety expectations
- Maintaining accurate placement information using Excel and other databases
- Ensuring financial records relating to placements are complete, accurate and compliant
- Undertaking placement visits and contributing to quality assurance activity
Birmingham Children’s Trust has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children’s Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting. This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right‑to‑work documents to work in the UK. We do not support those who require sponsorship.
About You
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships
- Flexibility and confidence in managing changing priorities
- An analytical approach with the ability to understand and work with data
- Curiosity, attention to detail and a willingness to learn as an individual and develop our service using creativity and innovation
- A proactive mindset and commitment to improving outcomes for young people
- Ability to travel to various locations to undertake placement visits (sometimes at short notice)
Additional Information
Interviews will take place on Monday 29 June 2026.
Our Benefits
- A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
- Free on‑site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley).
- Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
- Pension Scheme – You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the local government pension scheme.
Why Join Us
- Impactful Work – be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
- Supportive Environment – enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
- Career Development – benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
- Generous Benefits – take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.
Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people. We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Safeguarding
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people. The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people. We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.
Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications. Therefore, please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.
Commissioning Officer - Placements in Birmingham employer: WMJobs
Birmingham Children's Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families. With a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation, employees benefit from generous annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and tailored career development opportunities. Located in Birmingham, the Trust offers a unique chance to contribute to impactful work while enjoying a range of employee benefits, including health and wellbeing support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commissioning Officer - Placements in Birmingham
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Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like WMJobs.
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We think you need these skills to ace Commissioning Officer - Placements in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of WMJobs. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
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Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Commissioning Officer - Placements, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
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How to prepare for a job interview at WMJobs
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of WMJobs. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
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We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
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Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
