Children’s Home Finding & Commissioning Officer

Are you someone who can find creative ways to solve problems? If you want to make a positive impact on Children and Young People in Care, we have a job within our Homefinding & Commissioning team that might be ideal for you!

Finding the right home for a child is a significant factor in achieving stability and improving outcomes for children.

The Homefinding & Commissioning Team lead on all aspects of home finding for children 0-18 needing fostering, residential and supported accommodation. We work to ensure that homes are needs led, good quality and cost effective.

East Sussex County Council ESCC Homefinding & Commissioning team are responsible for:

• Identifying, matching, quality assuring and scrutinising homes and packages for all children and young people aged 0-18 needing fostering, residential, parent and child and supported accommodation placements.
• Commissioning support packages for children.
• building provider links and relationships with residential and fostering agencies.

As a Children’s Homefinding Officer your role is to lead on sourcing, negotiating and scrutinising placements for children with varying needs who are looked after. You will ensure that resources are used effectively to ensure value for money, liaising with partner agencies and across social work teams. You will focus on supporting and quality assuring providers, ensuring robust challenge around quality and cost where needed with a focus on needs led care.

This is a varied and challenging role where no two cases will be the same. Working within a supportive team, you will need:

• confident and articulate communication skills
• IT skills
• a focussed, methodical and organised approach to your work
• to enjoy working at pace, often with emergencies
• the ability to work autonomously, being able to reprioritise work, often under pressure to meet service demand
• to be a team player
• to be a confident negotiator, who enjoys challenge and understands risk in the context of children’s social care
• to understand the needs of children who are cared for by the Local Authority

To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a supporting statement. We will be using your supporting statement to shortlist so please be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests.

Please download the Job Description and Person Description for more information.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI.

Interviews will take place in Eastbourne soon after the advert closes and will be in-person. If you are unavailable on the date offered let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date to interview you. Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an evolving team in an outstanding placement service.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal conversation please contact: Stephanie Clements: stephanie.clements@eastsussex.gov.uk or Donna Collins: donna.collins@eastsussex.gov.uk

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record. Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.