Ruth Curtis

Background

About Ruth Curtis

I currently work for Bedford Council within the Placements Team. The Service I work in is pivotal for all our children coming into care, and those children who change placement during their care journey, overseeing the brokerage of all placements with external placement providers: independent fostering agencies, registered children's home, and supported accommodation. I work closely with Social Work Teams, my Fostering colleagues, and partners in education, health, and commissioning, helping to shape and deliver good wrap around services for children’s placements, and make sure arrangements for the shared funding of placements is in place. I have previous experience of staff supervision, and can demonstrate proven transferable supervisory skills to manage the daily operations of the service. I have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and am a strong advocate for promoting care placements which meet the holistic needs and lived experiences of Looked After Children and Young People. I have a solid understanding of relevant legislation including DoLS, regulatory frameworks, and care planning. I regularly use my communication and influencing skills to lead placement negotiations with internal and external stakeholders. Alongside Senior Management colleagues I review budgets, placement costings as well as budget forecasting. I ensure that placement stability procedures are embedded to offer early support and intervention when needed. I work collaboratively with external providers to look for new opportunities within the sector in order to maximise placement availability for our Young People. I have previous experience in working in Adults Social Care including reviewing care of adults in residential placements, Outreach Support work with adults with mild to moderate additional learning needs and mental health concerns including ASD and schizophrenia.