Placement Co-ordinator

Placement Co-ordinator

Permanent, Full Time

£25,081 to £27,653 per annum

Location:

Colchester

The Placement Coordinator will source and arrange the most cost-effective Placements, Support Services and Support Packages that deliver the specified requirements to adults at best value to Essex County Council (ECC). Ensuring that all requests for a service or support package identified by Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing teams are placed adhering to service specification standards.

The role requires the ability to work in a high-pressured environment, and have an understanding the care market, relevant contracts and the needs of the Adult and carers.

• Responsible for sourcing placements for Adults, in line with current ECC purchasing procedures and contractual arrangements, to ensure the efficient use of pre-contracted and approved providers.
• Maintain a current understanding of the care market, including capacity issues, providing the necessary information and evidence to enable Commercial colleagues to maintain market intelligence and inform development.
• Identify and respond to urgent or critical situations referred by Operational Teams by liaising with providers, professionals and the adult/their representative/s to find a solution appropriate to the needs of the adult. Negotiate ‘Best Value’ spot purchases for support where the need cannot be met through existing framework/block contracts.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to support requests to meet the adult's needs within the market environment.
• Support the Placement Team Managers to develop and maintain successful working relationships with internal and external partners, to investigate and respond to complaints and enquiries, and the design and implementation of new systems and processes, in line with the ECC digital agenda.
• Provide a specialised brokerage service to adults and their families both for self-funders and those adults referred for local community services, to meet Good Lives outcomes.
• Responsible for ensuring adults and their representatives are fully informed and supported through the sourcing process through professional communication, sometimes in challenging circumstances.
• Responsible for ensuring purchase order agreements on TCS or the Mosaic Social Care Management System are processed accurately to enable prompt payment of providers and maintaining up-to-date records in relation to sourcing activity.
• Maintain a good knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and be confident in the process to escal provider concerns or safeguards or hand backs.

• Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Experience of working within a complex business environment, with knowledge and understanding of contracts is desirable.
• Detailed knowledge and working experience of IT systems including Microsoft Word and Excel and database systems.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of the main principles of the Care Act and other relevant social care.
• Knowledge of requirements of Caldicott, Data Protection and Freedom of Information.
• Experience of working under pressure and working flexibly.
• Experience of working under pressure and working flexibly.

This role has a rolling rota to cover core working hours - Monday-Thursday 09:00-17:30 and Friday, 37 hours per week.