Job Details:
Job Reference: HCC623815
Salary Range: £33,178 - £36,369 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Temporary (12 months)
Closing Date: 4 May 2026
Interview Date: 6 and 7 May 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Placement Officer to join our Placement & Quality team (PQT) at Hampshire County Council.
Are you looking for a challenging and diverse role working as part of a friendly and supportive team, with an opportunity to make a real difference?
The Role:
The Senior Placement Officer plays a pivotal role in sourcing, negotiating, and managing residential care placements for children and young people looked after by Hampshire County Council. Operating within an area‑based model and aligned to designated Social Work teams, the role strengthens placement sufficiency, improves outcomes, and ensures best value for the Local Authority.
This post sits within the Placements & Quality Team (PQT), working closely with operational teams, multi‑agency partners, and external providers. The role includes category lead responsibilities for residential care and complex health placements, supporting decision‑making across the full placement lifecycle.
This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of one day per week in the Winchester office, alongside flexibility to attend in‑person meetings as operationally required.
What you’ll do:
Placement Sourcing & Package Management
* Act as the primary lead for residential placements within your designated area.
* Source and secure placements that meet assessed needs, statutory requirements, and outcome plans.
* Apply the Support Needs Assessment (SNA) and Placement Outcome Planning (POP) frameworks to support progression and outcomes-based commissioning.
* Negotiate placement packages, ensuring transparency, value for money, and alignment with care plans.
Operational Oversight
* Maintain oversight of placement activity and associated costs using Mosaic, the Placement Finding App, and digital trackers.
* Provide live updates and professional advice at Children’s Area Panels.
* Support social work teams with placement reviews, progression plans, and cost scrutiny.
* Escalate and monitor any concerns regarding unregistered placements.
Quality, Compliance & Market Engagement
* Build effective relationships with providers to influence quality and sufficiency.
* Ensure placements meet statutory and regulatory requirements.
* Collaborate with Strategic Commissioning colleagues to support sufficiency planning.
* Contribute to service improvement activity and inform decision making through data analysis.
Collaboration & Multi Agency Working
* Participate in multi agency meetings for children with complex needs.
* Maintain excellent communication with social work teams, providers, commissioning officers, and partner agencies.
What we’re looking for:
Essential
* Strong understanding of children’s social care and the residential care market.
* Experience sourcing and negotiating placements for children and young people.
* Good knowledge of the Support Needs Assessment (SNA) and Placement Outcome Planning processes and their role in planning and progression.
* Excellent communication, organisation, and prioritisation skills.
* Ability to analyse, interpret, and clearly present data.
* Confident use of digital tools and case management systems (e.g., Mosaic, Office 365 etc).
Desirable
* Experience in outcomes based commissioning / placement management.
* Familiarity with Power Apps and digital placement tools.
* Understanding of statutory frameworks relevant to children’s social care (Children Act, MCA, MHA).
Working Style
* Comfortable with hybrid working, including in office attendance once per week.
* Flexible and able to work across Hampshire and neighbouring authorities as required.
* Committed to safeguarding, GDPR compliance, equality and diversity, and the Hampshire Approach.
Why join us?
* Make a genuine difference by helping Hampshire children and young people access safe, supportive placements where they can thrive.
* Commitment to personal development.
* Comprehensive induction programme with all necessary training.
Our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.
If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!
Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.
Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance.
Additional Information:
Senior Placement Officer Candidate Pack
Vetting Requirements:
This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.
Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:
Hugo Laker, Placements & Quality Manager on hugo.laker@hants.gov.uk
Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.
We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.