Weston-super-Mare (On-Site)
Permanent, Part time
Level 6:- £31,067 - £33,366 per annum, pro rata
18.5
About Us
North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.
The Role
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Childrens Placement Officer to join our Children’s Placement Team. The Childrens Placement Team are responsible for identifying and commissioning support services and care placements for vulnerable children and young people including Children in Need, Children Looked After and Care Leavers.
In this role, you will; be responsible for receiving and coordinating referrals identifying children’s needs and then sourcing and matching services and placements to meet these needs from both in-house resources and independent sector providers. You’ll also be responsible for undertaking relevant financial and contractual processes relating to independent sector placements. The ideal candidate will have relevant experience from working within social care, education and/or health and be able to work as part of a team within a fast-paced environment. They’ll have excellent organisation skills and an ability to prioritise and manage a changing workload using their own initiative. They’ll be a confident communicator with a range of multiagency professionals and partner agencies with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and a proven ability to negotiate and problem solve.
Key Responsibilities:
- Recommend services and placement provisions based on a child’s needs as identified through the placement referral process so a qualified professional can select the placement that offers stability and the best outcomes for the child, applying knowledge and skills to a range of activities demonstrating understanding of the service area, relevant procedures and guidelines.
- Source and match services and provisions to meet the children’s needs from a variety of independent sector providers as detailed within an appropriate assessment framework.
- Undertake monitoring and contract compliance duties to evidence service quality and value for money as well as informing future commissioning strategies for the service.
- Introduce or give information and advice to referring officers, managers and other stakeholders about other services available to them to address other underlying needs. Establish & maintain appropriate links between service users and other professionals to encourage a clear understanding of each other’s priorities and ways of working.
- Communicating effectively with multi agency partners, colleagues and service users, both verbally and in writing through the appropriate use of IPAs, case notes and other record keeping within information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.
This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Work Style
At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.
This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:
- 2-3 days in the office
- Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
- Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.
About You
We are looking for an individual who is passionate about children’s social care and who possesses the following skills and experience:
Essential Criteria:
- Vocational qualification or experience to level 3 or 4 relevant to the service user group or equivalent.
- Understanding of the legislative framework for Children Looked After, Child Protection, Child in Need and children with complex needs within which all children’s services are provided.
- Qualification or working knowledge of Microsoft Office package.
- Ability to manage own work without close supervision
Desirable Criteria:
- Significant practical experience of working with service user groups giving rise to a variety of technical skills and sound understanding of the services available, work practices and processes relevant to the role in securing children’s placements.
What We Offer
At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Flexible working arrangements
- Local Government Pension
- Opportunities for professional development
- Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
- Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
- Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
- Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.
How to Apply
If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Contact Information
For further information about the role, please contact Charlotte Lewis, Personalised Commissioning Manager, at charlotte.lewis@n-somerset.gov.uk or 07469 406061.
Important Information
As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.
Interview Date: Friday 27 June 2025.
Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.
Equal Opportunities
At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.