Position reference: 50101125
Directorate: Children's Services | Service: Commissioning Teams
Salary: £31,537 - £34,434
Working Arrangements: Hybrid 3 days per week in the office
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Fixed Term for 12 months
We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch.
Suitable for Secondment: Employees wishing to be considered for secondment should agree with their head of service before submitting an application form.
See our range of Employee Rewards: Employee rewards and benefits
Closing date: 26/06/2026 at 23:59
This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check
If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk
When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.
Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.
At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.
We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.
There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Commissioning team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
- Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
- If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
- We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
- There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.
About the Post:
Be part of the team that helps children find the right place to call home.
We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Placement Support Worker to join our Children in Care placements team on a 12-month fixed term or secondment basis. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, gain valuable experience, and play a vital role in supporting some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
About the Role
At the heart of this role is a simple but powerful aim: helping children find safe, stable and nurturing homes.
You will work as part of a busy and supportive placements team, helping to identify and maintain suitable homes for children coming into care or needing to move.
Your work will directly contribute to ensuring children have homes where they can feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
You will:
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Support the identification of placements – helping to match children with homes that meet their needs, working closely with social care and providers
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Work alongside providers – building positive relationships with fostering agencies and residential providers across the sector
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Help ensure quality and compliance – supporting contract processes, monitoring arrangements and provider standards, this includes strong due diligence prior to contracts being confirmed
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Keep systems and information up to date – maintaining accurate data and supporting reporting that helps drive better decisions
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Support financial processes – helping ensure providers are paid accurately and on time, whilst ensuring costs are transparent and clear from providers
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Listen and learn from experience – contributing to feedback and user voice activity to improve future placements
This is a varied role where you’ll gain exposure to commissioning, placements, data, providers and practice — giving you a well-rounded understanding of how the system works.
Why This Role is a Great Opportunity
Whether you’re looking to step into Children’s Services, broaden your experience, or take on a new challenge through secondment, this role offers:
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A chance to make a real difference to children’s lives
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Hands-on experience in placements and commissioning processes
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Opportunities to develop new skills in data, contracts and partnership working
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A supportive team environment where you will be encouraged to learn and grow
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who:
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Cares deeply about improving outcomes for children and young people
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Is organised, proactive and able to manage a high pressured and varied workload
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Has strong communication and relationship-building skills
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Is confident working with data and systems (or keen to develop these skills)
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Can work both independently and as part of a team
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Brings experience in children’s services, administration, or working with families — or transferable skills from similar roles
Most importantly, you will share our belief that every child deserves the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re looking for a role where you can learn, contribute and make a meaningful impact, this could be the perfect opportunity.
Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.
Job Profile: Placement Support Worker Profile.docx
Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile.pdf
Help with your application form
Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.
We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.
We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.
CV's are not accepted for this role.
At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances"
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