Pupil Placement Officer (Referrals Officer)

Location: Accrington Office, Lancashire

Salary: Up to 30,000 per annum (Depending on experience)

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Hours: 3 days per week.

Annual Leave: 35 days per annum (inclusive of public holidays)

We provide a holistic, flexible alternative education designed for young people unable to remain in mainstream settings. Supporting up to 190 pupils annually across multiple sites, we offer a nurturing, individualised approach for students facing exclusion, complex SEND, or trauma. Our mission is to guide them toward a positive transition into further education, training, or employment.

As the Pupil Placement Officer, you will be the primary point of contact for all placement enquiries, coordinating student referrals seamlessly from initial contact through to final admission. Working alongside our internal SEN Team, you will liaise with Headteachers, referring schools, and Local Authorities to manage the process efficiently and compassionately.

• First Point of Contact: Handle enquiries from parents, carers, schools, and Local Authorities regarding placements.

• Relationship Management: Maintain strong connections with commissioning teams, Local Authorities, and families.

• Referral Coordination: Oversee the student admissions workflow across all educational provisions.

• Placement Liaising: Consult with Headteachers and senior leaders regarding slot availability and suitability.

• Inbox Management: Manage the referral and enquiries inboxes, ensuring prompt, accurate responses.

• Records & Admin: Maintain precise student records, ensure documentation is complete, and support the Finance Team with placement data for invoicing.

• Education & Tech: Minimum of 5 GCSEs (A -C including English and Maths) and proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel).

• Experience: Proven experience working within a school or educational setting is essential.

• Skills: Strong analytical abilities to interpret complex placement data, excellent communication skills, and the capability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

• Logistics & Compliance: Full UK driving license and a current enhanced DBS Certificate (or willingness to undergo vetting).

• Traits: A resilient, self-motivated team player with high attention to detail.

We maintain an absolute commitment to safeguarding and an ongoing culture of vigilance. We operate an open culture with a strict safe touch, no restraint policy. The successful candidate must undergo an enhanced DBS check, reference checks, and complete our comprehensive Safer Recruitment process.

If you have the administrative expertise and compassion to manage our pupil placements, please submit your current CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience.