Referrals Manager

Objectives of the role:

Ensure the commercial success for 3-4 schools supporting children with Autism and associated conditions within your region; achieving high levels of occupancy and good relationships with local authorities; ensuring schools meet Local Authority demand.

Working with:

Strategic Partnerships Director, Headteachers and senior colleagues in schools, Head of Marketing, case officers within local authorities, other colleagues within the Kedleston group as required. Part of the Commercial Team of 8 people.

Key responsibilities:

• Create and manage a Referral System for your schools across the year ensuring there is a continually strong pipeline.
• Develop positive relationships with case officers and SEN managers within local authorities within the catchment for your schools – building on current and developing new relationships, keeping abreast of any changes within the LA teams.
• Be the first port of call for local authorities referring to and placing at your schools.
• Work together with Heads and Head of Marketing to drive and build awareness for your schools to ensure there is consistently high demand and interest for the services we provide.
• Liaise with parents and carers in developing positive referrals where required during consultations.
• To keep abreast of changes within your regions and local authorities, ensuring the schools and group are able to understand market needs and adapt as required.
• Instil a culture of best practice when it comes to working with Local Authorities and see that everyone is working to achieve the best outcomes for the pupils we support.
• Work closely with schools to pre-empt and minimise occupancy gaps and particularly ensuring schools are able to replace Year 11 summer leavers.
• Support schools in any aspects of contract management for placement.
• Work with finance team where any invoicing issues arise for your local authorities.
• Gathering market intel to ensure you have an ongoing understanding of the competitive arena e.g. competitors, LA sufficiency strategies, local mainstream SEN provision. Sharing information across the group and to support strategic development opportunities.
• Daily use of CRM and other systems (Pipedrive/ Arbor) to upload, monitor and manage your referrals for your schools and ensure LA contacts are up to date.
• Generate reports from CRM to support SPD as required.
• Preparing summary reports for Local Authority contract monitoring meetings, including whether there are any finance issues, pupil summary review and referrals history and Schedule 3s.
• Ensure all pupil placements have a signed IPA (Individual Pupil Agreement) with their local authority.
• Upload term dates and open day events for your schools to your school web pages.

Other:

• Be proactive in contacting and meeting placing officers/managers and influence them to place
• Effectively manage LA accounts to drive referral activity
• Work with Head of Marketing to produce a clear marketing/business strategy for your schools
• Attend LA and parent events, representing your schools and the group e.g. The Autism Show.
• Understand and promote Kedleston to Local Authorities and ensure they have a good and positive understanding of what we do and how we go about it
• Ensure we have a breadth of referring local authorities for schools to ensure we are not over reliant on one.
• Know and foster strong relationships with our host local authorities
• Liaise with parents/carer and support open events at schools for prospective parents/carers, acting as an ambassador for the company and a key point of contact, always promoting a good image.
• To contribute to tendering processes where required.
• Visit your schools on a regularly basis (weekly/fortnightly) to foster good relationships with your Headteachers and others, offering support, encouraging engagement to meet budgetary targets and ensuring you have a good understanding of your schools’ offer to be able to articular to 3 parties
• Keep up to date with developments and changes in SEND.
• Provide a support to the wider commercial team, contributing to team events and meetings.
• Work flexibly to support other schools and homes within the group as required.
• Ensure your knowledge is up to date and promote strong safeguarding culture of the company.

Qualifications and essentials:

• Degree or equivalent qualification desirable
• GCSE English and Mathematics as a minimum

Skills, experience and requirements

• Understanding of public sector funding in Education, health or social care for children’s services essential
• Experience working in health, social care or education in public, private or charitable sectors
• Knowledge of special educational needs and/or Children in Care
• Experience of working in a commercial environment
• Able to work to deadlines and meet targets
• Proficient in working with CRM systems and managing data
• Proficient in Microsoft programmes; Word, Excel and able to use MS Teams or similar
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and be proactive essential but equally be part of a team
• Experience of working with senior colleagues
• Experience of working across more than one area of responsibility/multiple sites
• Takes pride in accuracy of work and attention to detail
• Able to support Marketing and willing to represent Kedleston at external webinars and events if required
• Must be willing to travel independently to schools, children’s homes, corporate offices as required including some prearranged overnight stays as needed.

Why work for us?

· a competitive salary and generous annual leave entitlement

· a comprehensive induction programme and ongoing programme of CPD

· contributions to your pension

· a friendly, passionate team committed to getting the best outcomes for our young people

Benefits include:

· life assurance

· cycle to work scheme, discounts on cinema trips, electronics, fashion, home and garden, travel, groceries, gifts, utilities, health and fitness, birthday treats

· refer-a-friend bonuses, long service and employee of the month awards

· health - employee assistance and counselling service, wellbeing support and advice, optional flu jab

About us:

Kedleston Group offer residential schooling, day schools and children's homes across England. Our schools and homes support children and young people living with social, emotional and mental health problems (SEMH) and specific learning difficulties, which affects their learning and ability to do everyday things. Our dedicated autism (ASC) schools work with young people who are high functioning and have associated needs such as mental health problems, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and learning difficulties.

We look for people to join our staff team who have the creativity and enthusiasm needed to deliver the best outcomes for the children and young people.

Kedleston Group Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its children and young people and we expect all staff to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. You will be expected to engage in annual safeguarding training, be familiar with key policies and ensure you know the steps to take should you be made aware of a safeguarding or child protection concern. You will remain vigilant and act swiftly if you have concerns about a child and be an appropriate role model for both children and colleagues at all times.

The successful candidate is required to provide references and will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS check. We will ask you to complete a criminal self-declaration form, and we will conduct online searches for information that is publicly available. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.