Head Of Referral Partnerships

Joining Careers Education; Greenham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Joining Careers Education is seeking a proactive Business Development and Referrals specialist to support placement referrals for children across residential homes. You will build relationships with Local Authorities, commission bodies, and social work teams, ensuring accurate records, contracts, and funding alignment.

Your role involves coordinating occupancy strategies, reporting to the Executive team, and guiding managers to secure safe, suitable placements aligned with therapeutic models.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of sales experience in the care sector.
• 2+ years in referrals with Local Authorities and funding bodies.
• Qualifications in Operational and Business Development management.

Responsibilities

• Receive, log, and track all placement referrals from Local Authorities and commissioning bodies.
• Liaise with Local Authorities, social workers, and internal managers on referrals and vacancies daily.
• Prepare and maintain placement documentation, contracts, and service agreements; coordinate with Finance on invoicing.
• Support occupancy tracking and weekly/monthly reports for the MD and SMT.
• Hold SMT reporting for referrals and progress, coaching managers in child-centred placement decisions.

Skills

Sales experience

Referrals experience

Operations & BD qualifications

Education

Operational & BD qualifications

Job description

Supporting the Business Development with placements for children across all homes and building relationships through networking and partnership working with funding authorities and social work teams.

Referrals & Placement Administration

• Receive, log, and track all placement referrals from Local Authorities and commissioning bodies.
• Maintain accurate referral records, placement start/end dates, and fee agreements for board use, MD reporting and SMT meetings.
• Liaise with Local Authorities, social workers, and internal managers regarding referrals and vacancies on a daily basis.
• Prepare and maintain placement documentation, contracts, and service agreements, working with Finance to ensure invoices are raised in accordance to placement and agreed funding.
• Support occupancy tracking and weekly/monthly placement reports and share with MD.

Referral & Partnership Strategy

• Develop and implement referral and placement strategy to achieve sustainable occupancy across all residential children's homes.
• Build and strengthen strategic relationships with Local Authorities, commissioning teams, social workers, and other referral agencies.
• Promote therapeutic approach (PACE) and reputation as a preferred provider of high-quality residential care through Networking and attending Children Homes events.
• Identify opportunities to expand referral partnerships and increase quality placement opportunities.

Placement Matching

• Support Registered Managers to book Assessments to complete the process to ensure each placement is carefully matched to the individual home's therapeutic model, staffing, and existing group dynamics.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Work collaboratively with Registered Managers to assess referral suitability, balancing the needs of the referred child with those of children already living in the home.
• Provide professional guidance and challenge where placement decisions may impact the safety, stability, or therapeutic environment of a home.
• Ensure placement decisions prioritise positive outcomes rather than occupancy alone.

Operational Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships with Registered Managers, Deputy Managers, Responsible Individuals, and senior operational leaders.
• Provide managers with expert advice on complex referrals and placement planning.
• Support homes experiencing placement challenges by reviewing compatibility and identifying solutions.
• Contribute to occupancy planning across the organisation to achieve 90% occupancy as a minimal across all homes.

Partnership Management

• Develop trusted relationships with commissioning teams and Local Authority stakeholders.
• Attend placement meetings, commissioning forums, and networking events.
• Ensure commissioners receive timely, professional communication regarding placement availability and outcomes.
• Promote the organisation's values and therapeutic model externally.

Performance & Quality

• Monitor monthly occupancy for each home, referral communication internally and externally, placement stability, and referral quality.
• Produce reports and forecasts for the Executive Team focused on occupancy, strength and breadth of referral network, and where the strengths and weaknesses are at any time in the sourcing of placements.
• Analyse referral trends and market demand to inform future service development.
• Ensure all referral processes comply with Children's Homes Regulations, Ofsted expectations, and organisational policies.

Leadership

• Sit as part of the SMT and lead in SMT reporting for all referrals and interest.
• Coach and support managers and RI in making confident, child-centred placement decisions.
• Work with RI and RMs to ensure all documentation is up to date for placement admission dates to not be adjusted or altered.
• Take full responsibility to monitor the specific referrals email account to capture and review all referrals.
• Produce an MD report weekly and send every Friday as Progress and business reporting.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:

• 2yrs experience working in sales within the care sector
• 2yrs experience in referrals and proactive approaches with Local Authorities and Funding Authorities
• Qualifications in Operational and business Development management.

Essential

• Experience in administration, preferably within care, education, or health sectors
• Working knowledge of referral platforms
• Experience handling invoices, payments, and financial records
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information

Desirable

• Experience working with children's residential homes or social care services
• Understanding of Local Authority referral and commissioning processes
• Knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory frameworks