Bracknell Forest Council
Placements Officer - Childrens (maternity cover, 12 months fixed term contract) (pay award pending)
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Are you organised, proactive and passionate about making a positive difference for children and young people? Join Bracknell Forest Council as a Placements Officer, where you will help source safe, high-quality, and person-centred care arrangements that support the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Working as part of a small, supportive Strategic Commissioning Team, you will use your communication, problem-solving and relationship-building skills in a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.
About The Team...
The Strategic Commissioning Team is a small, supportive team that works closely together to deliver a high-quality placements service for Children's Social Care. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and we value open communication, shared problem-solving and mutual support.
While the work can at times be challenging and fast‑paced, there is also space to think creatively, develop new approaches and make a real difference. No two days are the same and you will be supported to grow your skills and confidence within a stable, well‑managed service that is focused on continuous improvement and delivering the best possible outcomes for Bracknell Forest residents.
Key responsibilities…
- Support the delivery of a high-quality care sourcing service by quality-assuring referrals to ensure they are person-centred and compliant with relevant legislation and regulations.
- Help achieve value for money by identifying cost-effective care options, maintaining an understanding of the care market, and engaging positively with providers.
- Build, support, and maintain effective working relationships with care providers, internal teams, and other stakeholders.
- Ensure care and support arrangements meet the Council's quality standards by assisting with the collation of key provider information to inform quality assurance processes and Care Governance decisions.
- Assist with the collection, recording, and maintenance of accurate data to support decision-making, audit activities, and quality assurance.
- Complete all required documentation and service paperwork to ensure providers clearly understand service requirements and are paid accurately and on time.
- Carry out regular placement check-in calls with providers to ensure placements remain stable, appropriate, and continue to meet the needs of children and young people.
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Our benefits...
- 25 days annual leave increasing to 28 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.
Our values
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Disability confident and inclusive recruitment
Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be an inclusive employer. This means that if you have made us aware on the application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or you are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
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Interview date
Interviews will be held on Monday 10th August.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Sue Halligan, Access to Resource Manager: 01344 351841
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Equal Opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Further information on this vacancy
Job Description and Person Specification Candidate Pack
Apply Online
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