Senior Referrals & Placements Manager

Sense; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Sense is a leading disability charity based in Birmingham, delivering personalised, flexible support for disabled people with complex needs. The Referrals and Placements Manager role is a permanent, hybrid position working from our Selly Oak office in Birmingham.

You will oversee referrals and placements across commissioned services, ensuring person-centred, safe and financially sustainable outcomes, while strengthening relationships with commissioners and funders.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in referrals, placements, commissioning, business development or commercial management in social care, specialist education, healthcare or complex support.
• 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.
• Sound understanding of person-centred support, safeguarding, quality and relevant regulatory requirements.

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.

Skills

Senior-level experience

Relationship building

Commercial acumen

Contract & SLAs

People-centred approach

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Sense is a leading disability charity based in Birmingham, delivering personalised, flexible support for disabled people with complex needs. The Referrals and Placements Manager role is a permanent, hybrid position working from our Selly Oak office in Birmingham.

You will oversee referrals and placements across commissioned services, ensuring person-centred, safe and financially sustainable outcomes, while strengthening relationships with commissioners and funders.