Home Finding and Contracts Officer
| Posting date: | 12 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,598 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 24 March 2026 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 22318 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata if part time or under 12 months)
- Hours: 18.5, Wednesday pm/Thursday and Friday
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Home Finding Officer and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
- Sourcing homes for Children and Young People in Care up to the age of 18 years old
- Working with both internal and external professionals and the external provider market negotiating suitable individual packages for Children and Young People, ensuring contract compliance and financial accountability.
You will need
- To be a team player.
- To understand customer needs and know how to deliver a good customer service experience
- To have high level communication and IT skills
- To have the ability to work confidently under your own initiative and being aware of when to escalate issues or seek support
- To show accuracy and a keen eye for detail
- Have excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work to achieve deadlines and team objectives.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Home Finding Team are a small team committed to trying to ensure that a home to meet a child’s needs can be sourced in the timescales they need it. There are times when this can be challenging to achieve, but the team’s solution focused and supportive culture endures; -helped by good humour. The team are all proud of the positive relationships they have with social care teams and internal and external providers of care and the role the team plays in safeguarding children.
The Home Finding Team consists of a Manager, Senior Home Finding Officer, Finance and Business Officer and four Home Finding Officers of which you would be one. It is part of the wider Commissioning and Contracts Team.
Office working days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hybrid working is an option used on the other weekdays, but the team often prefer to work from the office at particularly busy times.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Nicola Lewis (01473 260207) or Rachel Rowe (01473 263730) (she/her), for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing Nicola.lewis2@suffolk.gov.uk/ Rachel.Rowe@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Tell us about a time you contributed to a supportive team culture during a challenging period. How did your actions help the team?
2. Give an example of when you had to prioritise multiple tasks or urgent requests. How did you decide what to focus on, and what was the outcome?
3. Give an example where your attention to detail made a positive difference to a case or task.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 24 March 2026
Interview date: 16 April 2026
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata if part time or under 12 months)
- Hours: 18.5, Wednesday pm/Thursday and Friday
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Home Finding Officer and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
- Sourcing homes for Children and Young People in Care up to the age of 18 years old
- Working with both internal and external professionals and the external provider market negotiating suitable individual packages for Children and Young People, ensuring contract compliance and financial accountability.
You will need
- To be a team player.
- To understand customer needs and know how to deliver a good customer service experience
- To have high level communication and IT skills
- To have the ability to work confidently under your own initiative and being aware of when to escalate issues or seek support
- To show accuracy and a keen eye for detail
- Have excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work to achieve deadlines and team objectives.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Home Finding Team are a small team committed to trying to ensure that a home to meet a child’s needs can be sourced in the timescales they need it. There are times when this can be challenging to achieve, but the team’s solution focused and supportive culture endures; -helped by good humour. The team are all proud of the positive relationships they have with social care teams and internal and external providers of care and the role the team plays in safeguarding children.
The Home Finding Team consists of a Manager, Senior Home Finding Officer, Finance and Business Officer and four Home Finding Officers of which you would be one. It is part of the wider Commissioning and Contracts Team.
Office working days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hybrid working is an option used on the other weekdays, but the team often prefer to work from the office at particularly busy times.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Nicola Lewis (01473 260207) or Rachel Rowe (01473 263730) (she/her), for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing Nicola.lewis2@suffolk.gov.uk/ Rachel.Rowe@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Tell us about a time you contributed to a supportive team culture during a challenging period. How did your actions help the team?
2. Give an example of when you had to prioritise multiple tasks or urgent requests. How did you decide what to focus on, and what was the outcome?
3. Give an example where your attention to detail made a positive difference to a case or task.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 24 March 2026
Interview date: 16 April 2026
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.