Senior Referral Manager

First Blue Healthcare Limited; Stafford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

First Blue Healthcare Limited is seeking a Senior Referral Manager to take overall responsibility for managing and coordinating the full referral journey across Education, Children’s Homes and Family Assessment Centre services. You will build relationships with local authorities, commissioners and other partners to develop referral opportunities and ensure occupancy.

The role requires safeguarding expertise, strong judgement and the ability to manage referrals efficiently, from enquiry to

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in referrals, placements, or service management within children's services.
• Strong safeguarding, risk assessment and decision-making abilities.
• Experience working with local authorities and commissioners.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for managing and coordinating referrals across Education, Children’s Homes and Family Assessment Centre services.
• Review and process new referrals from local authorities and other sources, ensuring prompt and thorough assessment.
• Lead the assessment and matching process considering age, needs, risks, education requirements and compatibility with existing placements.
• Maintain accurate referral records and ensure safeguarding, risk and regulatory requirements are met.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners to support occupancy, service growth and effective placement planning.

Job description

The Senior Referral Manager will take overall responsibility for managing and coordinating the full referral journey across our Education, Children’s Homes and Family Assessment Centre services. The role will oversee referrals from initial enquiry and identification of suitable placements through to assessment, decision-making and the successful transition of children and young people into our services. You will build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, commissioners, social workers, placement teams and other external partners, actively developing referral opportunities and supporting sustainable occupancy across our services. This is a key role within the organisation, requiring excellent judgement, strong knowledge of safeguarding and risk, and the ability to make informed placement decisions while ensuring that referrals are managed efficiently, professionally and in line with regulatory and organisational requirements.

Main Duties:

Referral & Placement Management

Take overall responsibility for managing and coordinating referrals across Education, Children’s Homes and Family Assessment Centres.

Review and process new referrals from local authority systems, commissioning teams, placement officers and other referral sources, ensuring each case is assessed promptly, thoroughly and accurately.

Lead the assessment and matching process, considering factors including age, needs, risks, presenting behaviours, placement history, education requirements and compatibility with existing children and young people.

Make informed recommendations regarding the suitability of referrals and placements, escalating complex cases or significant risks to senior management where required.

Maintain detailed, accurate and well‑organised referral records, including clear rationale for placement decisions.

Ensure all relevant safeguarding, risk, behavioural, educational, medical and placement information is obtained and appropriately considered before placement decisions are made.

Work closely with operational managers, registered managers, education teams, social workers, support workers, commissioning teams and other professionals to ensure effective placement planning.

Coordinate the referral and admission process, ensuring all required documentation, assessments, contracts and supporting information are completed prior to placement.

Identify and elevate concerns relating to safeguarding, risk, suitability, compliance or potential placement disruption.

Monitor the progress of referrals from initial enquiry through to placement and ensure that all stakeholders receive timely updates.

Maintain regular communication with operational and maintenance teams to ensure properties and services are suitable, available and ready to receive placements.

Support the effective management of placement moves, transitions and planned exits where required.

Stakeholder Engagement & Referral Development

Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with local authorities, commissioners, social workers, placement teams, education professionals, independent reviewing officers and other referral partners.

Develop a strong understanding of local authority placement requirements and referral pathways across education, children’s residential care and family assessment services.

Proactively identify and develop new referral opportunities to support occupancy, service growth and organisational objectives.

Act as a senior point of contact for referral partners, providing responsive, professional and solution‑focused communication.

Follow up all enquiries and referrals promptly, ensuring outstanding information is obtained and opportunities are progressed effectively.

Maintain accurate records of referral activity, outcomes, placement decisions and business development opportunities.

Develop a strong understanding of our services and communicate their strengths, suitability and outcomes effectively to referral partners.

Attend and contribute to relevant meetings, forums, networking events and stakeholder engagement opportunities to strengthen referral relationships.

Monitor market and sector developments, including changes in local authority commissioning, placement demand, education provision, children’s social care and family assessment services.

Maintain awareness of competing services and local placement availability to inform referral and business development strategies.

Identify opportunities to improve referral pathways, increase conversion rates and strengthen relationships with key commissioning partners.

Referral Strategy, Quality & Compliance

Take a proactive approach to improving referral processes, ensuring they are efficient, consistent and aligned with organisational policies and procedures.

Monitor referral activity, placement outcomes and key performance indicators, providing regular updates and reports to senior management.

Ensure referral decisions are evidence‑based, appropriately documented and consistent with safeguarding and risk‑management requirements.

Work collaboratively with operational teams to identify trends, challenges and opportunities arising from referrals and placements.

Contribute to service development and business growth by identifying gaps in provision and emerging placement needs.

Ensure all referral activity is managed in accordance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, safeguarding procedures and organisational policies.

Support audits and quality assurance processes relating to referrals, admissions and placement records.

Continuously review and refine referral workflows to improve efficiency, decision‑making and the experience of children, young people, families and professional partners.

Person Requirements:

Proven experience in a senior referral, placements, commissioning, business development or service management role within children’s services, education, social care or a related sector.

Strong understanding of the referral and placement process for children and young people.

Experience working with local authorities, commissioners, social workers and other professional referral partners.

Strong knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and placement suitability.

Excellent judgement and decision‑making skills, particularly when assessing complex or high‑risk referrals.

Excellent communication, relationship‑building and negotiation skills.

Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of referrals and competing priorities.

Ability to work proactively and independently while collaborating effectively with operational and senior management teams.

Proven ability to develop and maintain professional stakeholder relationships.

Experience of working to targets, KPIs or occupancy/business development objectives.

High level of attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.

A professional, solution‑focused approach with the ability to manage challenging or sensitive situations confidently.

Experience across Education, Children’s Homes and/or Family Assessment Centres.

Understanding of Ofsted‑regulated services and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Familiarity with local authority referral portals, commissioning systems and placement databases.

Experience in placement matching, admissions, commissioning, business development or stakeholder engagement.

Knowledge of the needs of children and young people with complex needs, trauma, challenging behaviour or additional educational requirements.

Understanding of family assessment, residential care and/or specialist education provision.

Awareness of trauma‑informed practice, safeguarding and culturally sensitive approaches.

Relevant professional qualification in social care, education, children’s services, business development or a related field.