Job Title: Children’s Placements Manager
Location: Walsall
Job Type: Full Time/Permanent
Agile Working: including working from home and designated Children’s Services Office
Salary: G10 £38,553 – £43,570 per annum
Closing date for applications: 14 April 2022
Interviews will be held during: w/c 18 April 2022
About the role:
Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children and young people entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people.
About you:
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dedicated person wanting to make a difference children’s lives. Our Children’s Placements or Home Finding Team will have a vacancy for a manager to oversee this key service. The successful candidate will lead a dedicated team of Placements Officers who respond to referrals from social workers in searching for homes for our children in care either with foster carers or in residential or supported accommodation homes. This crucial role involves making the most effective use of internal resources and contracted services in finding the right place for the right child at the right time in line with our Walsall Right 4 Children agenda (WR4C).
We are looking for someone with a proven ability to work on their own initiative; and who has excellent leadership skills to manage this small but effective team. You will have outstanding communication skills and will have the proven ability to liaise with a range of professionals including social workers and fostering and residential providers. As Manager you will need to engage with Senior Managers within Children’s Services and our statutory partners as well independent sector providers. You will need be proactive in resolving any problems or barriers in relation to individual searches, especially for those young people with complex needs.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the work of the team in identifying placements and to support them in managing the pressures of the role in what can sometimes be a changing and demanding environment. You will need to be familiar with how contracts and framework arrangements work and develop positive relationships with providers while also being able to challenge as required. You will have a role in collecting and maintaining information about where children and young people are placed and monitoring these services.
This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The postholder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.
Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.
If you’re interested in the role and would like to put yourself forward, please hit APPLY.
Candidates with experience of: Safeguarding Manager, Social Care Manager, Child Care Manager, Child Social Support Services Manager, Social Services Manager, Child Protection Manager, Social Worker Manager, Child Care, Commissioning may also be considered for this role.
