Placement Officer Permanent, Full Time £28,220 to £33,200 Per Annum Location: Chelmsford Closing Date: Monday 5th May 2025 at 11.59pm Interview Dates: 21st of May, 23rd of May and / or 28th of May at County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 1QH. Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It's an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row. The Opportunity Children and Families service is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future. The Placement Officer is part of a team working to identify, match and commission suitable in house or external placements, care and support packages for children and young people in care and those in need of support or accommodation. The Placement Officer will have extensive contact with children's social workers, foster carers and other placement providers to ensure placements are identified and well matched, as well as completing the administrative processes associated with placement making. Accountabilities Liaise with social workers, foster carers and placement providers to identify carefully matched placements, care and support packages in accordance with the child/young person's care plan, that considers the child/young person's health, education, cultural, ethnic, religious and therapeutic needs. Hold a caseload of placement finding activity, ensuring that identified placements offer the child/young person care and support in a safe and stable environment that complies with all required regulation i.e. Ofsted. Responsible for ensuring all relevant documentation i.e. referral, risk assessment, care plan is received from the child/young person's allocated social worker and as appropriate this is shared with the foster carer/care provider. Complete agreed administrative processes, notifications and recordings on placements being made. Build strong working relationships across the Council, providers, members of other statutory and organisations and voluntary agencies. To be part of a Placement Officer duty rota to respond to same day and planned placement referral requests. To attend assigned Quadrant as part of Quadrant Linking The Experience You Will Bring Educated to RQF level 3 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience. Evidence of development within role and knowledge in the relevant professional area. Experience of working in a supportive relationship with children, young people, carers and families. An awareness of problems and issues that can impact on children and families e.g. trauma, neglect, poverty, bereavement, disability. Ability to assess and match children and young people's needs to appropriate placements, understanding and using risk assessments in placement finding activity, in consultation with senior staff within the Placement Service. Experience of collaborating with other professionals and agencies for the benefit of children/young people. Competence in the use of all forms of IT and the ability to communicate clearly, both written and verbal.