Home Finder Officer

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in England is seeking a motivated Home Finder Officer to help secure stable homes for children and young people. This role is integral to ensuring that children in care live in environments where they can thrive. The ideal candidate will have a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and substantial experience in a related role, showing a child-centred approach. A competitive rewards package is offered, along with flexibility in working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a relevant role.

Responsibilities

• Identify external residential homes for children in care.
• Ensure timely and cost-effective homes are sought for children.

Skills

Child centred approach

Experience in care services

Education

Level 3 qualification in relevant subject

Job description

We are looking for a motivated individual to as part of the Home Finder Service which includes Fostering, Residential and Supported Accomodation. The role will involve securing stable homes for and people.

As a service we are committed to ensuring that our children and young people live in homes where they feel happy, safe and aspirational for their futures.

We are looking for a motivated individual to work as part of the Home Finder team to find Residential homes for children where their needs are met, and they can grow and thrive, and post‑16 Supported accommodation. You will need to be child centred and passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children and young people. These are rewarding and varied roles and ideal for individuals who enjoy a challenge and working in a fast‑paced environment.

What is involved?

As a Home Finder Officer you will identify external residential homes and supported accommodation for children who are in our care. You will contribute to ensuring timely, effective, and cost‑effective homes are sought for all Children and Young People to meet their needs through identifying in‑house resources and externally commissioned provisions. The team is very fast‑paced with a lot of competing demands and emergency work. It is a very rewarding role and is integral in a child’s journey.

We encourage you to contact Emma Forster, Team Manager Residential and Lauren Burns, Team Manager Supported Accommodation via email at [e-mail] or [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

What will I need?

• Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject e.g. business administration, health and social care, or equivalent.
• Substantial experience in a relevant role.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Interviews

Interviews will be held 22nd and 23rd December 2025.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked‑after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

Our offer to you

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

How to apply

Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the Person Specification section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website.

We welcome applications from disabled people and those who are or consider themselves to be neurodivergent.

If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email [e-mail].

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from [e-mail]. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.

Connect with us

Follow us on Instagram. Like us on Facebook. Visit our website. #VPRS/161