Placements & QA Manager, Children's Social Care

Cheshire East Council; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

34 days annual leave

Purchase of annual leave up to 10 days

37-hour week with hybrid/remote option

Green car salary sacrifice scheme

White goods salary sacrifice scheme

Career average pension

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Cheshire East Council is seeking a Service Manager – Placements and Quality Assurance to lead the Placements and QA function within Children’s Commissioning at Delamere House, Crewe. You will drive placement securing, safeguarding compliance and provider oversight to improve outcomes for SEND and looked-after children.

The role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge (Ofsted/CQC) and partnership working with commissioning and education teams, with a focus on quality and value.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience.
• Significant management experience within children’s services or commissioning.
• Experience overseeing placements, providers or QA.
• Strong understanding of placement markets, safeguarding and QA.
• Knowledge of Children’s Act 2024, Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, safeguarding and inspection expectations.
• Excellent understanding of Ofsted regulations for children’s residential care and SEND.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership of the Placements, Brokerage and QA function across SEND and Children’s Social Care including directly line managing and supporting staff within the Placements and QA team, setting clear expectations, managing performance and supporting development.
• Ensure placements are secured in a timely manner, meet assessed needs and represent best value within available resources.
• Lead the Quality Assurance (QA) function across commissioned provision, including residential care, supported accommodation (16+), independent fostering agencies, alternative provision and specialist/SEND education. Oversee responses to quality concerns, safeguarding risks, provider underperformance and provider failure, including embargo and exit arrangements.
• Maintain oversight of provider performance, quality and compliance, working closely with commissioning and data colleagues to triangulate intelligence.
• Work closely with operational social care, SEND and education colleagues to manage demand, capacity and risk.
• Build constructive relationships with providers, partners and regional networks to support market stability and quality improvement.
• Support providers with Ofsted and Care Quality Commission frameworks, inspections and any improvement plan following Ofsted inspections where children and young people are placed by the council.
• Contribute to inspection readiness and activity, including Ofsted ILACS, SEND area inspections and other external assurance processes.

Skills

Senior leadership

Staff management

Provider oversight

Quality assurance

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Ofsted framework knowledge

Care Quality Commission frameworks

Job description

Cheshire East Council is seeking a Service Manager – Placements and Quality Assurance to lead the Placements and QA function within Children’s Commissioning at Delamere House, Crewe. You will drive placement securing, safeguarding compliance and provider oversight to improve outcomes for SEND and looked-after children.

The role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge (Ofsted/CQC) and partnership working with commissioning and education teams, with a focus on quality and value.