Social Care Placements and Sufficiency Officer

• Pay Rate: £17.45 - £19.37 per hour PAYE
• Location: Oldham Council
• Job Type: Full-time, 6-month contract

Oldham Council is seeking a dedicated Social Care Placements and Sufficiency Officer to join our Children's Social Care team. This role is crucial for supporting both in-house and external placement activities, ensuring the provision of suitable and timely placements that meet the needs of children in care.

• Source and support the provision of placements for children looked after by Oldham Council, ensuring these placements are suitable and meet the children's needs.
• Quality assure placements to ensure they are safe, deliver the best outcomes for children, and demonstrate value as part of the Planning and Sufficiency Strategy.
• Track placement activity and contribute to the management and oversight of placements within Children’s Social Care and Commissioning and Partnerships.
• Provide support and guidance to Social Workers, ensuring the referral, placement, and review processes are seamless and meet the children's needs.
• Review all Out of Borough placements as part of scheduled reviews and the High Cost Placements Panel.
• Collaborate with key partners including Social Workers, Health Professionals, Schools, and other bodies to support placement activities.
• Plan and review Independent Fostering Arrangements with the Fostering Team.
• Ensure transitional arrangements for post 16 and post 18 services are in agreement with the Council’s approach.
• Attend the Access to Resources Panel to support placement decisions as required.

• Experience in children's social care or a related field.
• Strong understanding of the needs of children in care and the social care landscape.
• Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders including Social Workers, Health Professionals, and educational institutions.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage high-pressure situations and make informed decisions that impact children's lives positively.
• Valid Enhanced DBS on the update Service
• Full UK Driving Licence, and access to a vehicle

To apply for the Social Care Placements and Sufficiency Officer position, please send your cv to