Placement Officer

Join Us in Making a Difference – Be the Link That Helps Find a Place Called Home

We’re on the lookout for a driven, positive, and passionate individual to step into an exciting new role that plays a vital part in delivering Medway’s Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care. Based within our dynamic Children’s Services ,Commissioning and Placements Team, this position acts as a central bridge between strategic commissioning and operational social care teams , a role where your impact will truly matter.

We’re seeking someone who brings not just experience, but creativity, energy, and a solution focused mindset. You’ll need to be highly organised, a natural relationship builder, and confident working across both internal teams and external partners to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Ideally, you’ll bring experience from within Children’s Services or the Provider market, alongside strong analytical and communication skills. Applications from social care professionals are warmly welcomed. Most importantly, you’ll share our commitment to finding the right homes for our children and developing high quality, person centred care and placement options.

You’ll be joining a high performing team with a strong, supportive culture where people feel valued and inspired in their work. 

This is more than a job – it’s a chance to help shape better futures. Are you ready to make your mark?

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, 

Please contact : Danny Mateer -  Access to Resources Manager  - 07800504416

                           John Taylor - Service Manager – Commissioning and Placements - 07970351920

In return we offer you

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• Hybrid working style - can work from home or in the office

Our organisation

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C.  There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.  

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached. 

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:    Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.  

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.  

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. 

Wording for open recruitment (against any level in the CPF): 

Commissioning are seeking to appoint a Placements Officer.  You can demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills to allow you to perform within this role.  You will identify, through application, how you meet the elements detailed within the person specification, at either Level A, B or C.   You will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs. 

Important Information

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.

All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.