Wirral Council is a place where you can genuinely make a difference, guided by strong organisational values that shape everything we do. Our values - ambitious, professional, resident‑focused and accountable, act as our organisational DNA, influencing how we work, lead and support one another every day. We take pride in delivering great services, acting with integrity, building positive relationships, and always putting residents first, creating a supportive and inclusive culture where everyone can “be the best we can be”. With our beautiful surroundings, ambitious future plans, and a commitment to empowering staff to #BeTheDifference, Wirral Council offers an inspiring environment to grow your career and make a lasting impact.
Placement Officer – Shared Lives Service
We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Placement Officer to join our Shared Lives Service. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference by supporting individuals to live independently within a family-based care environment.
About the Role:
As a Placement Officer, you will support the Registered Manager and Senior Placement Officer in delivering the Wirral Shared Lives Service. You will play a key role in recruiting, assessing and supporting carers, and matching individuals to placements that enable them to thrive.
You will manage a caseload of carers and ensure that placements are safe, effective and outcome-focused, promoting independence, choice and control for those using the service.
Key Responsibilities:
- Recruit, assess and train new Shared Lives carers
- Match individuals to suitable placements, completing risk assessments and supporting introductions
- Develop outcome-focused care and support plans
- Provide ongoing supervision, advice and support to carers
- Monitor placements to ensure quality, compliance and positive outcomes
- Maintain accurate records, reports and reviews in line with procedures
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders and respond to feedback or concerns
- Contribute to the ongoing development of the service
About the Candidate:
We are looking for someone with:
- NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or working towards)
- Experience within a social care setting
- Strong communication, organisational and report-writing skills
- Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and relevant legislation
- The ability to manage workloads, meet deadlines and build positive relationships
Experience within a Shared Lives or similar setting is desirable.
For more information about the role or for an informal chat, please email [email protected]
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant Barred List(s). The Safer Recruitment & Employment Policy and the Disclosures for Recruitment Procedure can be found at : https://www.wirral.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/job-vacancies/safer-recruitment-and-employment
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. For this vacancy, candidates must have an existing right to work in the UK before commencing employment. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available for this post. Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process.
This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.
If you’re already a Wirral Council employee, and as part of our Talent Strategy, we’re committed to strengthening opportunities for our people to learn, grow, progress and thrive. For many of you, this may be preparing and applying for your next role with us, and we're passionate about ensuring you feel supported throughout your internal recruitment experience. Please get in touch if you want to know more about some of the ways in which we could support you by emailing [email protected]
If you are a Wirral resident, are unemployed or out of work, and require help with your application, please contact Involve Northwest’s employment and skills team on [email protected] or contact 0151 644 4500 or 0151 652 4349.
Working at Wirral
You’ll also want to know what it’s like to work here so, as a start:
Our values are more than just pieces of paper on our walls! We’ve all played a role in developing these, so they reflect the immense pride we have in what we do, what matters to us, what inspires us and inform how we think, approach things and behave.
We believe in ensuring staff are well looked after, staff wellbeing is a priority for us. We’re serious about recognising and rewarding people for the great things they do. You’ll benefit from our track record of developing, growing and investing in our people.
We have a range of staff benefits including staff discounts, enrolment into the local government pension scheme (an excellent defined benefit scheme), immediate life cover and ill-health protection. We have a strong flexible working approach, hybrid working, family-friendly employment initiatives and an annual leave package starting with 28 days leave plus public holidays.
We have an inclusive, engaged culture, everyone has a voice, everyone is valued for their contribution and understands the role they play in delivering our strategic priorities.
Each voice is heard, each contribution valued. We embrace diversity in our workforce and recognise it is critical to our success. We support an inclusive culture that champions differences and nurtures a sense of belonging. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds, who share our values and our commitment to inclusion to apply for roles with us.
We want you to be your best at work, we create the conditions to help you thrive and we mirror this in our recruitment process. If you’d like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process to make it barrier-free and as accessible as possible please contact [email protected]
Please note that in accordance with the Council’s policy, employees who are in a formal redeployment situation will be considered in the first instance for all vacancies.
It is Council policy not to re-appoint any employee who has left under the terms of the Council's Early Voluntary Retirement (EVR) scheme or who have left with a voluntary severance (VS) package, unless in exceptional circumstances.
Applications will be accepted until midnight on the closing date.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications.
Applications can only be accepted through the Jobs page following registration. Forms received via the post will not be processed.
All applicants invited to interview must evidence their right to work in the UK.
The job description and other supporting documents will not be accessible once the vacancy closing date has passed so if a copy is required you should download it now.
We do not accept applications or CV’s from recruitment agencies, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, any candidates submitted via a recruitment agency will not be considered for this role.
