Placement Officer

**What you'll work on**

The Placements and Purchasing Officer will be responsible for managing and monitoring both referrals and contracts in relation to placements provided for Looked After Children and children with multiple and complex needs within Children & Family Services. The post holder will ensure that purchasing is undertaken on the basis that placements meet needs, deliver appropriate outcomes, achieve value for money and provide a quality service to children and young people.

The Placements and Purchasing Officer will take responsibility for ensuring that there are robust contracts in place for Looked After Children and children with multiple and complex needs receiving independent sector provision funded by Children’s Services.

To use proven financial ability and negotiating skills with providers, ensuring that placement fees are correct and appropriate discounts are being applied. Can challenge providers where fees are not correct.

To create, organise and update Excel spreadsheets, to process and check invoices and ensure that budget predictions for the financial year are accurate.

Under the direction of the Commissioning and Contracts Officer, the Purchasing Officer will gather and present information that will inform future commissioning strategies.

**A few things to note**
- The rate for this role is £25 per hour Umbrella
- The term for this role is 3 months initially

**What we're looking for**

The post holder will be educated to degree level or vocational equivalent and will have a high level of technical expertise, analytical skills and specialist knowledge of procuring services for vulnerable people. They will need significant experience of working within a social care setting at a management level.

The post holder will require a high level of self motivation and the ability to work independently using their own initiative, as well as function within a wider team.

**Key areas of experience and knowledge**
- An understanding of commissioning/contracting framework including the Government's key strategies and legislative framework
- Experience of commissioning children's placements
- Knowledge of children looked after legislation?

**Job Types**: Part-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 3 months
Part-time hours: 30 per week

**Salary**: £25.00 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Housing allowance

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

- Do you have An understanding of commissioning/contracting framework including the Government's key strategies and legislative framework?
- Do you have experience of commissioning children's placements?
- Do you have knowledge of children looked after legislation?

**Experience**:

- Local Government: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

- Degree or equivalent (preferred)

Work Location: Remote