Children's Business Development Manager

Children's Business Development / Referrals Manager Location: Blackburn Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 (Dependent on Experience) Contract: Full-time, Permanent Travel: Mileage paid About the Role We are seeking a proactive and driven Business Development / Referrals Manager to support the growth of children's services across the Blackburn area. This role will focus on building strong relationships with key stakeholders, increasing referrals, and ensuring high-quality placement matching for children and young people. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain strong relationships with Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) Act as the main point of contact for incoming referrals and placement enquiries Proactively identify new business opportunities to increase occupancy and service growth Manage the end-to-end referrals process, ensuring timely and appropriate placements Work closely with internal teams to match children with suitable provisions Attend meetings, networking events, and stakeholder reviews as required Maintain accurate records and reporting on referrals and occupancy levels Requirements Proven experience in a business development, referrals, or placements role within children's services Strong working knowledge of Local Authority commissioning processes and ICBs Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills Ability to manage multiple referrals and work in a fast-paced environment Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel (mileage reimbursed) What's on Offer Competitive salary of £40,000 - £50,000 (DOE) Mileage reimbursement for all travel Opportunity to play a key role in service growth and development Supportive and collaborative working environmentSearch is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age