Placements Officer - Residential

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child? 

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fixing what needs fixing, together. 

This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.

About the Role

The Placements Officer will respond to placement requests, identify suitable placement options, build strong relationships with Local Authority Placement Teams, promote service vacancies, and complete related administrative and contractual tasks.

This role suits a proactive candidate with experience in administration, customer service or sales, and who is confident managing competing demands while maintaining high standards of accuracy and professionalism.

Key attributes include strong organisational skills, the ability to prioritise, and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

Though based Rustington, the Placements Officer works as part of the wider national Placements Service, supporting shared inboxes and providing cross-regional placement support. The role requires strong communication, organisational skills, resilience, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Day-to-day, you will:

• Screen and analyse child referrals, identifying key information and responding promptly and professionally.

• Liaise with stakeholders including home managers, social workers, head teachers, residential services and Local Authorities to progress referrals and placements.

• Build and maintain strong working knowledge of commissioners, children’s homes and schools, including their capacity and suitability.

• Work closely with internal teams to identify child–service matches and make appropriate offers to Local Authorities.

• Promote available homes, and services through regular updates and proactive communication to Local Authorities.

• Liaise with home managers and to confirm required funding levels for placements.

• Manage all data entry linked to referrals and placements on internal information systems.

• Complete regular system audits and follow up on missing documentation.

• Produce accurate daily, weekly and monthly data reports on referrals and placements.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Attend and comply with all safeguarding training.
• Adhere strictly to safeguarding policies to ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people. 

Who We’re Looking For

This role is ideal for someone with experience in administration, customer service, or sales, who thrives in a busy environment and enjoys problem-solving. You will need to be:

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident managing competing priorities.
• A strong communicator who can build effective relationships.
• Resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure.
• Comfortable working with data and using digital systems.

Why Join Us?

• A rewarding role making a direct impact on children’s lives.
• Supportive national team with ongoing training and development.
• Opportunity to build strong professional networks across the care and education sector.
• Dynamic environment where no two days are the same. 

The successful applicants will be offered a role subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.