Strategic Commissioning Programme Manager - SEN
| Posting date: | 11 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £54,992 to £62,778 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 November 2025 |
| Location: | Ellesmere Port, Cheshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | W4237 |
Summary
Here at Cheshire West and Chester Council, we are committed to providing excellent Adult Social Care services to residents. We are one team, putting what matters to people first and are investing in a number of roles, across our service areas to grow our dynamic, solution focused team.
So, wherever you are in your life, there is something to suit you in Adult Social Care, whether that be meaningful work, feeling valued in your role, career progression, pay progression or a great work life balance, this is where you will find it. If you want to be a part of our welcoming, values driven service and are passionate about being part of a team that can make a real difference for local people, please take a look at the roles we have available.
The Strategic Commissioning Programme Manager – SEN is a new role and will provide the successful postholder with an exciting opportunity to develop, plan and deliver a sufficiency plan for our children and young people with SEND; oversee the strategic commissioning of services, including education places, quality assurance and contract management processes for SEN places to ensure a child centred process and value for money is achieved for the council
This role requires a candidate with a significant level of knowledge, skills, and experience in the subject area. Immediate priorities over the next 24 months include (non-exhaustive):
Develop a sufficiency plan outlining the services required for the next 5 years to enable our children and young people with SEND to access appropriate services to meet their needs within their local community.
Deliver recommendations from the sufficiency plan and monitor progress
Undertake the strategic commissioning of services to support the education of children with SEND
Develop and implement processes to review educational places provided by the independent sector.
Develop a brokerage function to ensure the most appropriate placements are sourced for children and young people with SEND.
Integrated commissioning opportunities with health partners and other key stakeholders.
The postholder may also be expected to work across any portfolio of commissioning (where required - based on the needs of the service), in order to address the wider strategies and priorities across the team, this may include areas such as (but not exclusively):
Adult Learning Disability and Autism
Ageing Well
Children and Young People’s services
Public Health services
Early Intervention and Prevention
We are looking for an experienced, capable, dynamic and solution focused Commissioning Manager to lead and manage the delivery of high-quality commissioning outcomes. The Commissioning Manager will work closely with the senior leadership team across the directorate, corporate colleagues, elected members, and key stakeholders, including people who use are services and their carers, to deliver agreed commissioning priorities.
Applicants should be experienced in engaging with residents, providers, and key stakeholders to co-produce high quality commissioning strategies. Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate considerable experience in project management and the application of all elements of the commissioning cycle, including demand analysis, market shaping, embedding best practice and legislative requirements into service design. A good understanding of procurement and contract management processes is essential.
The post holder will also be expected to work collaboratively with strategic partners as appropriate (including the NHS) to ensure quality and value for money is achieved in all commissioning strategies. The direct line management of staff will be required for this role.
To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk
Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment. Please see the Equality Policy for more information.
To discuss the opportunity in more detail please contact
Angela Lewis, Senior Manager, Strategic Commissioning – Children, Families and Public Health
angela.lewis@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk .
We reserve the right to close and interview candidates as soon as sufficient applications are received.
So, wherever you are in your life, there is something to suit you in Adult Social Care, whether that be meaningful work, feeling valued in your role, career progression, pay progression or a great work life balance, this is where you will find it. If you want to be a part of our welcoming, values driven service and are passionate about being part of a team that can make a real difference for local people, please take a look at the roles we have available.
The Strategic Commissioning Programme Manager – SEN is a new role and will provide the successful postholder with an exciting opportunity to develop, plan and deliver a sufficiency plan for our children and young people with SEND; oversee the strategic commissioning of services, including education places, quality assurance and contract management processes for SEN places to ensure a child centred process and value for money is achieved for the council
This role requires a candidate with a significant level of knowledge, skills, and experience in the subject area. Immediate priorities over the next 24 months include (non-exhaustive):
Develop a sufficiency plan outlining the services required for the next 5 years to enable our children and young people with SEND to access appropriate services to meet their needs within their local community.
Deliver recommendations from the sufficiency plan and monitor progress
Undertake the strategic commissioning of services to support the education of children with SEND
Develop and implement processes to review educational places provided by the independent sector.
Develop a brokerage function to ensure the most appropriate placements are sourced for children and young people with SEND.
Integrated commissioning opportunities with health partners and other key stakeholders.
The postholder may also be expected to work across any portfolio of commissioning (where required - based on the needs of the service), in order to address the wider strategies and priorities across the team, this may include areas such as (but not exclusively):
Adult Learning Disability and Autism
Ageing Well
Children and Young People’s services
Public Health services
Early Intervention and Prevention
We are looking for an experienced, capable, dynamic and solution focused Commissioning Manager to lead and manage the delivery of high-quality commissioning outcomes. The Commissioning Manager will work closely with the senior leadership team across the directorate, corporate colleagues, elected members, and key stakeholders, including people who use are services and their carers, to deliver agreed commissioning priorities.
Applicants should be experienced in engaging with residents, providers, and key stakeholders to co-produce high quality commissioning strategies. Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate considerable experience in project management and the application of all elements of the commissioning cycle, including demand analysis, market shaping, embedding best practice and legislative requirements into service design. A good understanding of procurement and contract management processes is essential.
The post holder will also be expected to work collaboratively with strategic partners as appropriate (including the NHS) to ensure quality and value for money is achieved in all commissioning strategies. The direct line management of staff will be required for this role.
To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk
Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment. Please see the Equality Policy for more information.
To discuss the opportunity in more detail please contact
Angela Lewis, Senior Manager, Strategic Commissioning – Children, Families and Public Health
angela.lewis@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk .
We reserve the right to close and interview candidates as soon as sufficient applications are received.
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