Total Placement Service – Service Manager

Role Responsibility

Do you want to be an instrumental leader in Kent finding safe and loving homes and services for children, young people and care experienced adults?

An exceptionally exciting opportunity has arisen within the Children, Young People and Education Directorate that will interest anyone with an ambition of balancing the safety and security of vulnerable children with the complexity of achieving best value from social care markets.

The Total Placement Service sources placements and services for children in care, children on the edge of care, and care leavers. Leading a team of 25 staff, you will be responsible in ensuring that homes for these children, young people and adults provide stability, ensuring their needs are met and help them to achieve their aspirations.   If successful, you will be part of the Children’s Commissioning Unit Management Team, as well as part of the Corporate Parenting Management Team receiving regular supervision to aid your professional development along with a range of training opportunities. 

The post is varied and interesting working across a range of directorates and partner organisations to develop with these key stakeholders a service that is flexible, agile and responsive. 

To be eligible for the post you will need to possess the following qualifications, skills and experience:

• Qualified Social Worker
• Experience of working at a senior level
• Proven track record of successful negotiation and commercial acumen
• Experience of working across multiple organisations
• Proven track record of leading and motivating teams through clear vision
• Be self motivated and ambitious, driven to deliver the very best service  

Kent County Council is committed to a hybrid working model with a flexible working offer, with regular attendance to work from our Maidstone office required.

The closing date is 11.59pm on 6th July 2025. 

Interviews will take place in person week commencing 28 July 2025 at Kroner House, Ashford. There will be a requirement to undertake psychometric testing as well as delivering a short presentation at the start of your interview. Candidates will be advised of the topic prior to the interview to present to the panel. There will also be a Young Person’s panel as part of the interview process. 

If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

Contact Details

Christy Holden, Christy.holden@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.