Home Finding and Quality Assurance Manager

Wokingham Borough Council; England; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a Home Finding and Quality Assurance Manager to oversee placements for children in care. This role involves strategic sourcing, managing relationships with providers, and ensuring high-quality services. Ideal candidates should have a degree and experience in commissioning and contract management, with strong negotiation skills. Applications are open until 23rd November 2025.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Local government pension scheme

Free onsite gym

Salary sacrifice car & cycle schemes

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience in commissioning, placement sourcing, and contract management within children’s services.
• Experience of working in commissioning or support tasks.
• Ability to negotiate, persuade, and influence at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the sourcing and matching of placements for children.
• Oversee the identification and commissioning of independent and non-maintained special schools.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and regional providers.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Problem-solving skills

Influencing skills

Communication with stakeholders

Education

Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject

Job description

Overview

Home Finding and Quality Assurance Manager

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £59,009 - £64,673 Per Annum, Plus Benefits
Location: Wokingham
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 23/11/2025 at 23:00
Reference: 713128

We have a brand-new fantastic opportunity available for a Home Finding and Quality Assurance Manager to join our Children’s Services team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full time, permanent basis.

As the Home Finding and Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead the strategic sourcing and brokerage of placements for children we care for, care leavers and children with SEND, ensuring high-quality, value-for-money provision that meets individual needs. This includes a range of placement types such as residential care, independent fostering agency (IFA) placements, parent and child placements, supported accommodation, and specialist education settings for children with SEND.

Wokingham Borough Council has launched a dedicated Home Finding and Placements team focused solely on supporting children and young people. This new, specialist service brings sharper focus, enhanced expertise, and personalised support to every child’s journey. Previously part of a combined adults and children’s service, the creation of this standalone team marks an exciting step forward, enabling us to design a truly child-centred approach from the ground up.

As part of this transformation, you\'ll have the opportunity to collaborate across Children’s Services, deepen your knowledge of children’s social care and education, and play a key role in shaping a service that makes a real difference in young lives. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of something meaningful!

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days (rising to 36 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays
• An excellent local government pension scheme
• Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)
• Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes
• A range of local & lifestyle discounts
• An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline
• And much more

Key responsibilities

• Lead the sourcing and matching of placements for children we care for and care leavers, including emergency, short-term, and long-term options.
• Oversee the identification and commissioning of independent and non-maintained special schools for children with SEND and Alternative Provision.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and regional providers to maximise local placement options
• Implement and maintain a robust quality assurance framework to monitor placement quality, outcomes, and compliance.
• Lead the development and maintenance of a comprehensive contracts register for all placements and service contracts.
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence and quality assurance checks on all providers before making placement decisions.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the annual Sufficiency Strategy.

Candidate requirements

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject.
• Experience of working in commissioning or support tasks (e.g. monitoring quality, performance or evaluating costs).
• Experience of identifying, developing, and delivering opportunities for improving a service
• Experience in commissioning, placement sourcing, and contract management within children’s services.
• Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence at all levels, including senior managers and partners
• Good problem-solving skills and ability to identify and implement appropriate solutions

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

How to apply

If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Alternatively, to find out more or to arrange an informal discussion, please contact Carey Tulloch at [e-mail].

Closing Date: Sunday 23rd November 2025, 11pm

Interview Date: TBC

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.