Placement Officer (BR9)

Job Category : Admin / Clerical

Location : Civic Centre, Bromley Council

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 08:45

End Time : 17:00

Salary: £17.09

Main Purpose

To discharge the Authority’s responsibilities under ASCOF and other relevant legislation with respect to clients with disabilities, vulnerabilities and care needs.

To ensure the council’s eligibility criteria, policies and procedure are followed in relation to service users.

To help create packages of support to prevent unnecessary reception of children and young people into care and to assist adult clients to remain in their own home where possible and/or to move to suitable and appropriate residential care.

To match service user needs to potential placements.

To monitor the performance of current providers of placements and support services.

Job Description & Person Specification

5. To negotiate the cost of all placements and support packages to ensure that the Authority

receives the best value service and the most appropriate care and support for our clients,

taking into account all cost implications for recommended placements.

6. To commission a range of assessments (medical, parenting, risk, fostering and

psychological) as required and identified by the care plan at the request and approval of

the Head of Service.

7. To undertake inspection and evaluation visits to providers for both individual clients and for general database records. To produce a report of findings, including recommendations as

to the suitability of the provider to meet needs of potential placements. To regularly review

and monitor the provision ensuring that CQC reports are received and reviewed, Statements of Purpose and references are regularly updated.

8. To undertake investigation of complaints and concerns as raised by the team, social

workers or managers regarding external providers. To produce reports of findings; to meet

with providers and agree action plans to remedy any identified faults or failings and to

monitor and maintain progress updates against the action plan.

10. To ensure communication with Adult services is maintained for young people identified as likely to need Adult services, in particular as they move towards the age of majority.

11. To liaise with social workers and other professionals and agencies regarding assessments of care needs and potential service providers in order to assist the development of appropriate and coherent care planning. This may include the negotiation with other agency representatives around contributions to service funding.

13. To participate in a duty rota system dealing with all emergency placements received whilst the duty officer, including following through overnight & weekend placements by updating Liquid Logic

SKILLS & ABILITIES

•Ability to work within a framework of legislation, guidance, divisional policies and

procedures and to be accountable to senior officers.

•The ability to understand and interpret to everyday activities the Council’s Financial

Regulations

•Skill in communicating orally and in writing in clear and correct English, including an ability

to maintain concise and legible case records and the ability to produce reports as required.

•Ability to manage working time effectively to meet both professional priorities and

administrative requirements.

•Good numeracy and literacy skills

•A high level of computer and IT skills and experience, record keeping and telephone

communications, including the use of office software packages, eg databases, email and

internet for research.

•Demonstrate appropriate understanding, knowledge and skills in valuing diversity

KNOWLEDGE

•Knowledge of the range of services that is available to families and adults

and of the organisational framework within which they operate.

•An understanding of the importance of confidentiality in the context of a social and

healthcare environment.

•A sound understanding of the Care Standards and relevant legislation and the

CQC registration and approval process.

•A sound knowledge of the nature of social and healthcare service delivery in the

community

•A knowledge of local services and community resources

•A basic understanding of contract rules and obligations

•An awareness and commitment to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and its

application to service delivery and the role.

•An understanding of the need for timely and accurate record keeping in order to

provide management information and performance indicators

EXPERIENCE

•Experience of working as part of a team.

•Experience of using computer packages and undertaking administrative tasks.

Experience of negotiating agreements or contracts

•Experience of working in a local government or third sector environment, ideally within

a social care or community care setting

•Previous experience of a customer focussed environment

•Evidence of continued professional and personal development

QUALIFICATIONS

•Educated to a high level – first degree or equivalent.