Placement Officer – Childrens and Young People’s Services

BBL are currently looking for a Placement officer to work for our Local Authority client in the West London area, within Childrens and young Peoples Services.

MAIN PURPOSE

To work as part of the Placements team to help provide a Placement and resources service for all children and young people.

To work directly with placement staff, other professionals and providers to help achieve the most appropriate placements for children and young people looked after.

To be responsible for monitoring and evaluating out of Borough placements and ensuring that the policies and procedures of those placements promote the needs and best interest of children in public care.

To take a lead in the development of the Placement Strategy to ensure the service meets the demand for resources and changes/ developments in legislation and practice.

To develop knowledge and experience of the range and quality of resources provided both in Borough and by independent resources, and to monitor and evaluate these provisions. To establish and maintain a resources database.

To utilise this knowledge and experience to advise social workers, their managers and Duty Placement Officers on appropriate placements.

To monitor placements of young people who have had 3 or more placements in one year and those placements, which have disrupted.

To maintain statistics of referrals, placements and responses to enable future resource planning.

To ensure that any complaint / child protection allegation, including anonymous referrals are dealt with in line with the Child Protection Procedures. To liaise with senior managers regarding emergency matters or issues not covered by procedures

To work with the parameters of all relevant legislation such as the Adoption and Children Act 2003, the 1989 Children Act, the Care Standard Act 2000, the 1991 Criminal Justice Act and the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act.

To attend Access to Resources Panel. To participate in meetings relevant to the Resources and Placements Service to develop the services of children and families in the borough.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Relevant social work qualifications e.g. C.Q.S.W, Dip SW or equivalent, with a minimum of 1 years post qualifying experience in child care
Or unqualified with a minimum of 4 years childcare experience

of residential placements of children.
Experiences of foster care placements of children

Experience of direct work with providers for children and young people
Experience of evaluation and monitoring of provider services.

Working knowledge of the Children Act, Care standard Act 2000, Standards and Regulations for Fostering and Residential Services, and other relevant legislation.

Ability to assess risk factors and ensure safety when recommending resources.

Ability to gate-keep / accept appropriate referral and make clear recommendations as to suitable resources.

Please apply with an up to date CV