Home Finding and Commissioning Team Leader
Job Reference: pcc/TP/659/1472
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Band 12, £52,412 to £56,759 per annum.
Working Hours: 37
Location: Civic Offices
Closing Date: 16/06/2026
Job Category: Social Care Children
Region / Division: UK Region
Job Introduction
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Home Finding & Commissioning Team Leader to join our team within Children We Care For Services. This vital leadership role will ensure children who cannot live with their families are placed in safe, stable, and nurturing homes that meet their needs, reflect their identity and support positive, long‑term outcomes.
About the role
You will lead a dedicated team delivering a high‑quality home finding and brokerage service, ensuring the right placements are secured at the right time with a focus on quality, stability, and value for money.
You will also play a hands‑on role in complex and urgent placement searches, acting as a key escalation point and working collaboratively across services and with external providers.
Key responsibilities
- Lead, supervise and develop Home Finding & Commissioning staff.
- Manage workflow and allocate placement referrals to ensure timely and effective service delivery.
- Undertake complex placement searches and negotiate with providers to secure suitable options.
- Ensure all placements are safe, appropriate, and cost‑effective.
- Build strong relationships with internal and external providers, monitor performance, demand and financial pressures, and coordinate multi‑agency working.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, safeguarding and procurement requirements.
- Support ongoing service improvement, reporting and sufficiency planning.
The ideal candidate
We are looking for a confident leader with strong professional knowledge and a passion for improving outcomes for children.
- Proven leadership experience within children’s placements, commissioning or brokerage.
- Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Solid understanding of placement matching, safeguarding and risk assessment.
- Knowledge of Ofsted, regulatory and procurement frameworks.
- Ability to analyse data and drive service improvement.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Resilience and flexibility to respond to urgent placement situations.
Working Arrangements
Minimum two days per week in the office as per our Hybrid Working Policy.
Rights and Equality
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK; no post will be offered without it.
Please note: We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.
Safeguarding
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years – this is essential for all safeguarding roles.
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