Belmont Recruitment are currently seeking an experienced Placements Officer to work with our client on a temporary basis. This is initially a three-month role working 37 hours per week, based in Seaham. The role involves sourcing and securing suitable placements for children and young people, ensuring their individual needs are met. Overview: The successful candidate will work within the Children’s Social Care team, identifying appropriate placements for children and young people in care. This will involve working closely with social workers, residential providers, fostering agencies and commissioning colleagues to secure suitable placements, negotiate arrangements and support effective placement planning. Main Duties: * Responding promptly and effectively to placement requests, including emergency requests, identifying suitable in-house resources and externally commissioned placements * Liaising proactively with independent providers to maximise placement choice and stability for children and young people * Working with social workers and operational colleagues to match children and young people to appropriate placements * Negotiating placement arrangements and finalising placement agreements with commissioned providers * Gathering and analysing information to support placement searches and future planning * Maintaining accurate and detailed records of placement requests, search activity, provider responses and discussions with colleagues * Supporting the effective use of resources and ensuring placements are timely, appropriate and cost-effective * Working collaboratively with commissioning colleagues to support the development and delivery of services for children and young people Essential Criteria: * Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject, such as business administration, health and social care, or equivalent * Previous experience in children's social care, placement finding, brokerage or commissioning * Previous experience in sourcing and securing placements or coordinating care provision for children and young people * Strong negotiation, organisation and time management skills * Effective written and verbal communication skills * Knowledge of social care, housing or health policy and practice * Ability to work independently, use initiative and respond to urgent requests If this role is of interest, please apply with your up-to-date CV