Placements Officer / Family Finder

Purpose of the Job

To efficiently and effectively process incoming Local Authority referrals for both foster and residential placements, working with other relevant members of staff to progress matching and placement planning, with the joint aim of making well-matched placements with either [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s foster carers or other organisation affiliated with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal].

Job Context

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is committed to delivering services that are user-focused and sensitive to the individual needs of children, local authorities, and the broader community. All employees are expected to reflect this ethos through a commitment to service excellence, quality, equality, and partnership.

Main Duties

• Receive, assess, and process referrals from Local Authorities.
• Liaise with foster carers, supervising social workers, managers, and other professionals to facilitate effective and timely matching.
• Ensure that placements meet the child’s needs in accordance with fostering regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Meet regulatory requirements from Ofsted.
• Maintain clear and accurate placement records on relevant systems (e.g., CHARMS).
• Provide professional, detailed responses to Local Authority placement teams, including required documentation (e.g., Form F, annual reviews), and details of any support required.
• Monitor and follow up on the progress of referrals and placement stability.
• Complete matching tools to evidence how children are matched to foster families.
• Contribute to the development of effective marketing materials and vacancy lists and brochures.
• Assist with internal respite coordination
• Negotiate with placing authorities, to attain additional support packages for placements, where required.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings, panels, and reviews as required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Local Authority commissioning teams and other external stakeholders to support effective partnership working.
• Support quality assurance and safeguarding processes, and uphold agency standards at all times.
• Liaise with the finance team regarding costings and assist with follow-up where appropriate.
• Set up and close profiles on CHARMS.
• Communicate with supervising social workers to ensure admission paperwork is uploaded within required timescales.
• Identify alternative revenue streams and contribute to business growth plans.
• Assist in the preparation of new tender documentation and the completion of compliance paperwork for existing tenders.
• Raise safeguarding concerns in a timely manner to enable appropriate managerial support.
• Liaise with Local Authorities regarding children's education, health, and other needs.
• Attend relevant internal team meetings, professionals’ meetings, and placement stability meetings as required.
• Support the finance team to ensure the correct care package is loaded and chase outstanding invoices.
• Work to ensure carers are engaging with inhouse psychotherapist and agency’s resources are being used effectively.
• Chase outstanding children’s individual placement agreements and ensure these are signed off by management.
• Attend team meetings and contribute to the continuous improvement of the organisation
• Work collaboratively as part of the team to support the development and continuous improvement of the service.
• Actively engage in regular supervision sessions.
• Participate in an annual appraisal
• Undertake other duties as may reasonably be assigned, commensurate with the level of responsibility.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

• Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience working in a social care, education, or fostering environment.
• Familiarity with referral and matching processes, and risk assessments.
• Experience liaising with professionals and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of fostering regulations and children’s social care legislation
• Experience using social care recording systems (e.g., CHARMS).
• Knowledge of the Social Care Common Framework (SCCIF): Independent Fostering Agencies and experience of Ofsted Inspections and Auditing.
• Knowledge of the needs of children in care
• A strong interest in promoting permanence and placement stability to children in care
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of key children's agencies

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to assess risk and make informed decisions.
• Ability to delegate and negotiate where necessary.
• Confident in IT systems and databases.
• Adaptability to fast-paced and changeable environments.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work and balance varying priorities
• Ability to work according to the companies Policies and Procedures
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently and demonstrating initiative whilst working in line with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s Policies and Procedures.

Personality

• Well presented
• Enthusiastic
• Highly motivated
• Empathetic
• Able to quickly build positive working relationships with carers, staff and stakeholders.

Other Requirements

• To have a flexible approach to working hours, to ensure the needs of the agency and its stakeholders are properly met.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities principles and practice.
• Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Barring System Checks (DBS)
• Satisfactory References
• Right to work in the UK