Job Description
Placement Finding & Brokerage Officer – Bury (Agile / Hybrid working)
Full-time – 37 hours per week
We’re recruiting an experienced Placement Finding & Brokerage Officer to join a busy Children’s Commissioning team, playing a vital role in securing high-quality placements for vulnerable children and young people.
This is a key operational role, working at pace and under pressure, where your decisions will directly impact outcomes for children and young people across residential, fostering and supported accommodation settings (pre- and post-18).
About the Role
You’ll be part of a team collectively overseeing up to £20m spend on placements and commissioned services, ensuring the right placement is secured at the right time – balancing quality, suitability, location and value for money.
Your responsibilities will include:
* Acting as the first point of contact when a child or young person requires a placement, including same-day and emergency placements
* Sourcing and securing residential, fostering and supported accommodation placements (pre and post-18)
* Working closely with social workers, personal advisers, fostering teams and providers
* Quality‑assuring placement referrals to ensure they are accurate, balanced, strength‑based and GDPR compliant
* Carrying out due diligence on providers, including Ofsted checks, references and compliance checks
* Coordinating placement logistics, including transport and notifications to partner agencies
* Managing placement contracts, purchase orders, invoices and financial monitoring
* Producing monthly budget reports, forecasts and reconciliation data
* Supporting SEN placements, including out‑of‑borough schools and colleges
* Maintaining accurate placement databases, provider lists and commissioning data
* Supporting commissioning, procurement and contract monitoring activity
* Working collaboratively with regional partners, including Placements North West
About You
You’ll be well‑suited to this role if you have:
* Experience working within a local authority or public sector, ideally within Children’s Services or social care
* Strong knowledge of placements, commissioning, contracting or brokerage
* Experience managing budgets, contracts, invoices and financial systems
* Confidence working with complex, high‑risk and time‑critical situations
* Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship‑building skills
* Strong organisational skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure
* A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
Relevant qualifications in commissioning, procurement, management or a related discipline are desirable.
Why Apply?
* Make a real impact on the lives of children and young people
* Work in a fast‑paced, influential role at the heart of Children’s Services
* Join a collaborative commissioning team with strong regional partnerships
* Hybrid / agile working model
How to Apply
For more information or to apply, please contact:
Referral Bonus: Know someone perfect for this role? Refer a successful candidate and receive £250.
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