Referrals and placements manager

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Sense is seeking a Referrals and Placements Manager to lead referrals and placements across our commissioned services. This permanent role is hybrid from our office in Selly Oak, Birmingham, collaborating with operations, quality and finance to ensure each placement is person-centred, safe and financially viable.

You will build relationships with commissioners and referrers, use referral data to drive conversion and growth, and lead contracts, SLAs and funding proposals with senior stakeholders

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in referrals, placements, commissioning or business development.
• Experience in social care, healthcare or complex support.
• Track record improving referral pipelines, occupancy or income.
• Experience building relationships with commissioners and funders.
• Knowledge of contracts, SLAs, and pricing.
• Experience using CRM systems, performance data and forecasting to drive action.

Responsibilities

• Lead and improve the referral and placement pathway from enquiry to start.
• Own the central referrals pipeline and capacity data to improve conversion.
• Coordinate person-centred assessments and capacity checks.
• Work with operations, quality and finance to ensure viability.
• Build relationships with commissioners, local authorities, NHS partners, SEND teams and funders.
• Lead funding proposals and commercial recommendations within delegated authority.
• Forecast and report performance to support decision-making.
• Identify and resolve barriers across the referral pathway.
• Lead, support and develop referral colleagues to create a high-performing team.

Skills

Senior-level experience in referrals

Referrals

Placements

Commissioning

Business development

Commercial management

Social care

Healthcare

Complex support

CRM systems

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Referrals and placements manager

Overview

• ID

  323277

• Salary

  £56,745

• Type

  Permanent - Full Time

• Location

  Birmingham

• Hours

  37.5

• Closing Date

  27/09/2026

• Downloadable Files

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Referrals and Placements Manager to lead and strengthen our approach to referrals and placements across Sense’s commissioned services. This is a permanent role working on a hybrid basis from our office in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Working closely with operational, quality and finance colleagues, you will help ensure that each potential placement is person-centred, safe and financially sustainable. You will use insight from our referral pipeline to improve conversion, while building strong relationships with commissioners and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.

You will also play an important role externally, developing relationships with commissioners and referrers and ensuring they understand Sense’s specialist services and the difference we can make for disabled people with complex needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve Sense’s referral and placement pathway from initial enquiry through to service start.
• Take ownership of our central referrals pipeline and capacity data, using insight to improve conversion, occupancy and utilisation.
• Coordinate person-centred assessments, compatibility and capacity checks and multidisciplinary input.
• Work closely with operational, quality and finance colleagues to ensure potential placements are safe, appropriate and financially viable.
• Build strong relationships with commissioners, local authorities, NHS partners, SEND teams and other funders and referrers.
• Represent Sense externally and use commissioner and market insight to identify opportunities for growth.
• Lead funding proposals, fee negotiations and commercial recommendations within delegated authority.
• Support the management of contracts and SLAs, including renewals, variations, pricing reviews and commercial risks.
• Provide clear forecasts and performance reporting to support decision-making and accountability.
• Identify and resolve barriers across the referral pathway, bringing together colleagues from across Sense to keep opportunities moving.
• Lead, support and develop referral colleagues, creating a collaborative and high-performing approach.

About you

You will have:

• Significant senior-level experience within referrals, placements, commissioning, business development or commercial management in social care, specialist education, healthcare or complex support.
• A strong track record of improving referral pipelines, placement conversion, occupancy or income across multiple services.
• Experience building credible senior relationships with commissioners, local authorities, NHS or integrated care system partners, SEND teams or other funders.
• Practical experience of contracts, SLAs, placement agreements, pricing and fee negotiations.
• Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of service viability and commercial risk.
• A sound understanding of person-centred support, safeguarding, quality and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills, with the confidence to bring together senior operational, quality, clinical and finance stakeholders.
• Experience using CRM systems, performance data and forecasting to drive action and improve outcomes.

Experience of line management, tendering, mobilisation or cross-functional service development would be an advantage.

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We’re proud to be a Disability confident leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

Our values

Our values shape the way we behave and work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers.

• We're creating change
• We're always learning
• We're better together

Closing Date

27/09/2026