Supporting the Business Development with placements for children across all homes and building relationships through networking and partnership working with funding authorities and social work teams.
Referrals & Placement Administration
Receive, log, and track all placement referrals from Local Authorities and commissioning bodies.
Maintain accurate referral records, placement start/end dates, and fee agreements for board use, MD reporting and SMT meetings.
Liaise with Local Authorities, social workers, and internal managers regarding referrals and vacancies on a daily basis.
Prepare and maintain placement documentation, contracts, and service agreements, working with Finance to ensure invoices are raised in accordance to placement and agreed funding.
Support occupancy tracking and weekly/monthly placement reports and share with MD.
Referral & Partnership Strategy
Develop and implement referral and placement strategy to achieve sustainable occupancy across all residential children's homes.
Build and strengthen strategic relationships with Local Authorities, commissioning
teams, social workers, and other referral agencies.
Promote therapeutic approach (PACE) and reputation as a preferred provider of high-quality residential care through Networking and attending Children Homes events.
Identify opportunities to expand referral partnerships and increase quality placement opportunities.
Placement Matching
Support Registered Managers to book Assessments to complete the process to ensure each placement is carefully matched to the individual home's therapeutic model, staffing, and existing group dynamics.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Work collaboratively with Registered Managers to assess referral suitability, balancing the needs of the referred child with those of children already living in the home.
Provide professional guidance and challenge where placement decisions may impact the safety, stability, or therapeutic environment of a home.
Ensure placement decisions prioritise positive outcomes rather than occupancy alone. Operational Collaboration
Build strong working relationships with Registered Managers, Deputy Managers, Responsible Individuals, and senior operational leaders.
Provide managers with expert advice on complex referrals and placement planning. Support homes experiencing placement challenges by reviewing compatibility and identifying solutions.
Contribute to occupancy planning across the organisation to achieve 90% occupancy as a minimal across all homes.
Partnership Management
Develop trusted relationships with commissioning teams and Local Authority stakeholders.
Attend placement meetings, commissioning forums, and networking events.
Ensure commissioners receive timely, professional communication regarding placement availability and outcomes.
Promote the organisation's values and therapeutic model externally.
Performance & Quality
Monitor monthly occupancy for each home, referral communication internally and externally, placement stability, and referral quality.
Produce reports and forecasts for the Executive Team focused on occupancy, strength and breadth of referral network, and where the strengths and weaknesses are at any time in the sourcing of placements
Analyse referral trends and market demand to inform future service development. Ensure all referral processes comply with Children's Homes Regulations, Ofsted expectations, and organisational policies.
Leadership
Sit as part of the SMT and lead in SMT reporting for all referrals and interest
Coach and support managers and RI in making confident, child-centred placement decisions.
Work with RI and RMs to ensure all documentation is up to date for placement admission dates to not be adjusted or altered.
Take full responsibility to monitor the specific referrals email account to capture and review all referrals.
Produce an MD report weekly and send every Friday as Progress and business reporting.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
2yrs experience working in sales within the care sector
2yrs experience in referrals and proactive approaches with Local Authorities and Funding Authorities
Qualifications in Operational and business Development management.
Essential
Experience in administration, preferably within care, education, or health sectors Working knowledge of referral platforms
Experience handling invoices, payments, and financial records
Strong organisational and time-management skills
High level of accuracy and attention to detail
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
Desirable
Experience working with children s residential homes or social care services
Understanding of Local Authority referral and commissioning processes
Knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory frameworks
