Placements Manager
Children’s Residential Services
Hybrid Working | South East / LondonSalary: Up to £55,000 per annum plus performance related bonusFull Time | Permanent
Are you a commercially aware, relationship-driven professional with a strong understanding of children’s residential care and Local Authority commissioning?
We are recruiting for an experienced Placements Manager to join a growing and ambitious children’s residential provider operating across multiple homes. This is a pivotal role sitting at the centre of occupancy growth, placement stability, safeguarding, and relationship management.
This position would suit someone with experience within children’s residential care at Deputy Manager level or above, or someone already working within referrals, commissioning, placements, or occupancy management.
This is not simply an administrative role. We are looking for someone who genuinely understands the realities of children’s residential care, therapeutic matching, safeguarding responsibilities, and the pressures facing both Local Authorities and providers.
The Role
You will act as the first point of contact for all incoming referrals and placement enquiries, building strong relationships with commissioners, social workers, and placing teams while ensuring every placement is appropriately matched to the needs of both the young person and the existing home environment.
Working closely with Registered Managers and senior leadership, you will help drive occupancy across the organisation whilst maintaining quality, stability, and safe outcomes for children and young people.
The role offers a genuine hybrid structure, combining remote working with operational collaboration and relationship management.
Tasks
Key Responsibilities
- Managing all incoming referrals and placement enquiries across residential homes
- Assessing referrals against Statements of Purpose, occupancy levels, and risk factors
- Liaising with Registered Managers regarding placement suitability
- Building strong relationships with Local Authority commissioners, placing teams, and sector professionals
- Managing occupancy pipelines and referral tracking systems
- Supporting placement stability and smooth admissions processes
- Attending commissioning meetings, networking events, and sector forums
- Supporting service growth and occupancy strategies
- Ensuring safeguarding, confidentiality, and GDPR standards are maintained at all times
- Contributing to placement reviews and multi-agency meetings where required
About You
To be considered, you will ideally have:
- Experience within children’s residential care, referrals, commissioning, or placement coordination
- Strong knowledge of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and safeguarding frameworks
- Excellent understanding of Local Authority placement and commissioning processes
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills
- Experience managing multiple referrals and competing priorities
- A commercially aware and solution-focused mindset
- Confidence working with CRM systems, reporting tools, and databases
- A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people
Requirements
Desirable
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Residential Childcare
- Existing relationships with Local Authority commissioners and placing teams
- Experience within occupancy growth, tendering, or framework engagement
- Knowledge of therapeutic or EBD care models
- Experience working across multiple homes or services
Benefits
What’s on Offer
- Salary up to £55,000 per annum
- Hybrid working structure
- Performance-related bonus
- Opportunity to play a key role within a growing provider
- Ongoing professional development and training
- Supportive and forward-thinking leadership team
- A genuinely rewarding opportunity to influence positive outcomes for young people
The organisation is fully committed to safer recruitment practices and safeguarding standards within children’s residential care. All recruitment and placement decisions are made with the welfare, safety, and stability of children and young people at the centre of the process.
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, safer recruitment principles, risk management, and professional boundaries within an Ofsted-regulated environment.
- This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and verification of right to work in the UK.
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