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Children's Placement Manager

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

The Role

Our Children Looked After Service is looking to recruit a full time Team Manager to lead our Placements Team.

The Placements Team is responsible for identifying external residential and family placements for children looked after aged 0-18, supported accommodation for young people aged 16+, and supporting young people leaving care with securing settled accommodation. The team plays a crucial role in offering the children and young people we care for safety, security and stability.

You will bring positive energy, enthusiasm and passion to the role, with a clear focus on achieving positive outcomes for the children and young people we care for.

Our goals and visions

Here in Wandsworth, we are on an exciting journey of transformation. Our goals and vision are all about keeping families together where it is safe to do so. When children do need to come into care, our role is to provide them with the safety, stability and love that they need to thrive.

We value each member of the service and want each and every one to be a leader and champion of exemplary practice.

About the role

As Team Manager of the Placements Team, you will be responsible for leading a committed group of placements officers, social workers and our leaving care housing manager. You will be working collaboratively with your colleagues across the department and with external providers, to deliver high-quality and well-matched placements for children looked after and accommodation for care leavers.

To be shortlisted your application and personal statement (no longer than 2 sides of A4) will clearly evidence:

  • Significant experience of working in or managing a children’s placements team, in a local authority setting.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to build relationships with colleagues in social care, finance and commissioning, as well as with external providers.
  • Enthusiasm and tenacity to lead, shape and develop a team, bringing creativity and innovation to the way we commission placements for children and young people.

Contact details

If you would like to have an informal chat about the role, please contact either Trudy Eastwood (Trudy.Eastwood@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk) or Elizabeth Souter (Elizabeth.Souter@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk).

Benefits

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including working from home and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

  • Close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 15th May 2022
  • Shortlisting date: week commencing 16th May 2022
  • Interview date: week commencing 23rd May 2022

Useful Information: The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible. Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

Equality Statement

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

At Wandsworth, we particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams, including Black, Asian and Ethnic minority communities. We understand the value of what a diverse workforce brings to our local authority and therefore, strongly encouraging candidates from these backgrounds to apply to this position.

Important Information

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

How to apply?

To be considered for interview your CV/application and supporting statement must highlight your knowledge, skills and experience listed in the Job Profile located at the bottom of the advert.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils

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