Placements Officer

3 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

To support the recruitment, engagement, and retention of in house foster carers, while ensuring effective placement matching and sufficient placement availability for children and young people in care. The role plays a key part in strengthening foster carer support systems, improving engagement and retention, and helping to secure safe, stable, and suitable placements that promote positive outcomes for children and young people.

Key Duties/Accountabilities

• Act as a key point of contact for in house foster carers, building strong, positive working relationships.
• Coordinate and deliver foster carer engagement activities, including appreciation events, recognition initiatives, and training linked sessions.
• Plan, facilitate, and support foster carer support groups in collaboration with supervising social workers.
• Design, distribute, and analyse surveys and feedback tools to inform service improvement and improve carer retention.
• Maintain accurate systems to monitor foster carer availability, capacity, engagement levels, and support needs.

Essential Experience Required

• Experience working within children's services, fostering, placements, or a related social care setting.
• Experience engaging with foster carers, families, or service users in a supportive and professional capacity.

Essential Qualifications Required

• Relevant qualification in social care, health, education, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Knowledge of fostering services and the needs of children in care (desirable).
• Strong communication, organisational, and relationship building skills.

Additional Information

• Working Hours: 36 hours per week.
• Enhanced DBS required.
• Address: 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW, United Kingdom
• Work pattern: Hybrid working to be discussed at interview.
• We work on a bi weekly schedule.