The Placement Finding team is responsible for finding each Essex Child in Care a well-matched placement.

The team receives referral requests from children’s Social Workers, gathers relevant information to complete the child’s Referral Form and sends this out to providers. Placement Finding are responsible for all in house and external placements. The team will always send referrals to the Frameworks first before looking for spot purchase provisions.

When a provider is interested in considering offering a placement to a child they will notify the Placement Finding Team and work with the CYPPS Placement Officer to complete a Matching Form, which should include the costings, Ofsted Inspection Reports, the most recent reg 44 reports, and the Statement Of Purpose as a minimum. This information is shared with the child’s Social Worker who is responsible for deciding on the most appropriate placement option for the child.

The Placement Officer acts as a go-between, relaying information to and from the provider and the child’s Social Worker to find the best possible placement for the child and will confirm the placement once a decision has been agreed. The Placement Officer will send providers the Individual Placement Agreement, (IPA), which needs to be signed and returned.

The Placement Officer is also responsible for initiating the payment requests, and sending Health Notifications when a child is placed.

There is a central mailbox for Placement Finding, should you have any enquiries, or wish to alert us to any vacancies, please contact CYP.PlacementService@essex.gov.uk