Commissioning Officer
| Posting date: | 27 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,511 to £46,731 per year |
| Additional salary information: | 27 days annual leave per annum, rising to 32 days per annum after 5 years' service - Flexible Worker |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 June 2025 |
| Location: | Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | North Somerset Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SCHA0786 |
Summary
We are seeking an experienced Commissioning officer to join our Strategic Commissioning Service to lead work in the areas of 16 plus supported housing offer for our young Care Leavers. The Commissioning Service are responsible for the Commissioning activities in Children’s Service in Social Care and Education. We are looking for an enthusiastic motivated individual, to join the Children’s Service’s Commissioning Team in North Somerset Council. The person will be joining a small team that works strategically across all of Children and Families Services supporting operational colleagues, to meet the needs of children and young people in North Somerset. We are looking for someone who is committed, who can demonstrate creative and innovative practices to deliver efficient and high-quality services in partnership with children and young people and their families at a time of challenge in Health and Social care.
This role will take an operational lead in commissioning overview and direction of our commissioned services for all children and young people across Children’s Services. They will be responsible for ensuring the effective commissioning of high-quality services in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including children and young people and market providers.
The post holder will develop, shape and deliver an overarching programme to meet the needs of children and young people and ensure that the Local Authority has access to sufficient and suitable high-quality services and placements. They will support the quality assurance and compliance of the services through robust contract monitoring. The Service comprises of a Commissioning Team, and a Placement Team. The post holder will have a diverse role and work closely with colleagues in the operational teams and with the procurement team, supporting needs analysis of service needs and the development of new services.
The applicant needs to have previous related commissioning experience in health and/or social care. In this role, you will; Significant post qualification work experience to develop and use systems for contracting, including market analysis and quality assurance to support areas of Children’s Social Care and Education. Through purchasing or commissioning services from the independent sector. Supporting strategic developments in commissioning in all areas of social care and education, including SEND, 16 plus and edge of care.
Key Responsibilities:
Undertake procurement processes and monitor the resulting contracts to ensure compliance with the specifications and statutory responsibilities.
Advice on specifications to be included in contracts to maintain standards in accordance with legislation and agreed local protocols.
Propose and help implement service improvements within an integrated services plan to improve the outcomes for service users and the council ensuring compliance with legislation and local conventions.
Undertake a designated specialist role/s within the team and be a lead specialist in at least one of the professional areas.
Provide support and advice to identified stakeholders as detailed within the services work programme and address identified needs to comply with quality assurance and professional standards.
Work Style
This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way: 2-3 days in the office. Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
About You:
Educated to degree level or with relevant equivalent professional development in service such as commissioning or procurement management
Hold a thorough understanding of the legislative framework and statutory guidance which underpins the provision of education, early years and children’s services and a good understanding of emerging strategy and policy developments
Experience of working in a contracts and commissioning function within a local government setting or an ability to adapt approaches used in other sectors to a local government setting and being responsible for leading the commissioning process from end to end through initial scoping to evaluation of contract performance
Experience of engaging a wide range of stakeholders to agree priorities, advise and agree the scope of commissioning in conjunction with the Head of Commissioning
Strong child-centred and outcomes driven approach to all commissioning activity
Strong skills in partnering and the ability to influence positive change through effective partnership
Ability to work effectively in a local government context (legal, financial, political).
At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment:
Competitive salary and benefits
Flexible working arrangements
Local Government Pension
Opportunities for professional development
Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
For further information about the role, please contact Alison Stone, Head of Service, Strategic Commissioning. alison.stone@n-somerset.gov.uk. 07971497811
Interview Date: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 27 June 2025.
This role will take an operational lead in commissioning overview and direction of our commissioned services for all children and young people across Children’s Services. They will be responsible for ensuring the effective commissioning of high-quality services in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including children and young people and market providers.
The post holder will develop, shape and deliver an overarching programme to meet the needs of children and young people and ensure that the Local Authority has access to sufficient and suitable high-quality services and placements. They will support the quality assurance and compliance of the services through robust contract monitoring. The Service comprises of a Commissioning Team, and a Placement Team. The post holder will have a diverse role and work closely with colleagues in the operational teams and with the procurement team, supporting needs analysis of service needs and the development of new services.
The applicant needs to have previous related commissioning experience in health and/or social care. In this role, you will; Significant post qualification work experience to develop and use systems for contracting, including market analysis and quality assurance to support areas of Children’s Social Care and Education. Through purchasing or commissioning services from the independent sector. Supporting strategic developments in commissioning in all areas of social care and education, including SEND, 16 plus and edge of care.
Key Responsibilities:
Undertake procurement processes and monitor the resulting contracts to ensure compliance with the specifications and statutory responsibilities.
Advice on specifications to be included in contracts to maintain standards in accordance with legislation and agreed local protocols.
Propose and help implement service improvements within an integrated services plan to improve the outcomes for service users and the council ensuring compliance with legislation and local conventions.
Undertake a designated specialist role/s within the team and be a lead specialist in at least one of the professional areas.
Provide support and advice to identified stakeholders as detailed within the services work programme and address identified needs to comply with quality assurance and professional standards.
Work Style
This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way: 2-3 days in the office. Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
About You:
Educated to degree level or with relevant equivalent professional development in service such as commissioning or procurement management
Hold a thorough understanding of the legislative framework and statutory guidance which underpins the provision of education, early years and children’s services and a good understanding of emerging strategy and policy developments
Experience of working in a contracts and commissioning function within a local government setting or an ability to adapt approaches used in other sectors to a local government setting and being responsible for leading the commissioning process from end to end through initial scoping to evaluation of contract performance
Experience of engaging a wide range of stakeholders to agree priorities, advise and agree the scope of commissioning in conjunction with the Head of Commissioning
Strong child-centred and outcomes driven approach to all commissioning activity
Strong skills in partnering and the ability to influence positive change through effective partnership
Ability to work effectively in a local government context (legal, financial, political).
At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment:
Competitive salary and benefits
Flexible working arrangements
Local Government Pension
Opportunities for professional development
Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
For further information about the role, please contact Alison Stone, Head of Service, Strategic Commissioning. alison.stone@n-somerset.gov.uk. 07971497811
Interview Date: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 27 June 2025.
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