Senior Home Finding Officer

Sandwell Children's Trust are recruiting for a Senior Home Finding Officer.

Here at Sandwell Children's Trust we're on the up! Having been rated 'Good' by Ofsted in our recent ILACS Inspection we are looking to build on this success and are recruiting to a number of key roles in our Commissioning & Home Finding Teams. If you can bring relevant experience and knowledge and an innovative, commercially aware and above all a child centred approach, we want to hear from you.

Our 'Sandwell Deal' brings together our offering that make Sandwell Children's Trust a great place to work; it also sets out our expectations of you as a member of staff.

• Generous annual leave of up to 31 days, plus 5 additional days for long service recognition.
• Your birthday off paid in addition to annual leave entitlement and 8 Bank Holidays, plus a concessionary day at Christmas.
• You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme with employer contributions of 21.6%.
• We recognise individual loyalty with service awards from 2, 5, 10 and every 5 years onwards.
• Flexible working patterns that suit you and all of our roles have well defined career progression.
• We provide competitive expenses for both mileage (55p per mile) and subsistence, plus access to a comprehensive employee benefits scheme.

Please visit The Sandwell Deal via this hyperlink

£42,839 - £48,226 per annum dependent on experience, plus excellent benefits.

Hybrid Working - full time 37 hours per week

The Home Finding Team support our operational teams by funding stable homes for children we care for, whether that be in residential homes, with independent sector foster carers, or supported accommodation for older young people aged 16+. They also source support staff for families needing urgent support.

Role Summary

This high paced role will support the Home Finding Team Manager leading the Home Finding function, deputising for the Manager when required to manage the Home Finding allocations process and associated recording. The post holder will establish virtual teams with Social Work teams as required to ensure full oversight of the Home Finding Process and associated activity, including completion of due diligence activity, liaison with regulatory bodies, securing Head of Service and Director level approvals where required, and leading discreet pieces of service development activity under the direction of the Team Manager and Head of Service, Commissioning & Provider Hub.

Key Responsibilities

• To deputise for the Team Manager to cover period of exceptional demand, annual leave, professional development, or sickness as required and manage the allocations process and associated recording systems on such occasions as agreed with the Home Finding Team Manager.
• To lead and be responsible for an allocated number of home finding requests (e.g. residential, fostering, assessment, emergency and supported accommodation) for Young People as allocated by the manager and to routinely support Home Finding Officers for the sourcing of emergency or complex, taking a lead role on such duties where required.
• To deliver professional advice and in role development to referrers in order to assist in the identification of home finding and/or services that will produce positive outcomes, minimise risk and meet the child's needs presented by the referrer. This advice will be consistent with the requirements of relevant childcare legislation and the policies and procedures of the Children's Trust.

Required Skills & Experience

• Educated to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in health, social care, education, business administration or similar and a minimum of 12 months experience in Home Finding or other Social Care/Education brokerage environment.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience of working in an organisation in the social care field, fostering, residential or other social care settings with children & families.
• Experience of duty and/or high paced allocation work (e.g. home finding brokerage) and working to deadlines.
• Minimum of 1 year's experience of working in partnership with colleagues from other disciplines and agencies.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant childcare and other legislation relevant to the tasks of the Placement Service.
• Able to demonstrate excellent administrative and IT skills. Knowledge of project management.

If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Martyn Baggaley, Head of Commissioning & Provider Services via email .

Interviews to be held on Wednesday 6th May.

So, if you think your future could lie with a 'Good' Team, then we'd love to hear from you.

To apply please click on the link below to complete an application form and view the Sandwell Deal:

By joining our team, you will be making a real difference in the lives of children and families. We are dedicated to driving meaningful change and ensuring the best outcomes for those we serve. With the work that we have done so far and with the ambitions we have for the future, it's a really exciting time to join Sandwell Children's Trust and to become part of our Family.

Sandwell Children's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people.

If you require further information on the role or working for us please email and a member of our Recruitment Team will be happy to give you a call.