Brokerage Officer - SEND

Cheshire East Council; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced annual leave

Purchase of annual leave

Flexible working pattern

Salary sacrifice green car scheme

White goods salary sacrifice scheme

Enhanced public pension

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Cheshire East Council seeks a proactive Brokerage Officer - SEND in Crewe to broker SEND provision, including specialist placements, therapies, and home/community support, ensuring value for money and timely delivery.

You will interpret EHC Plans to create clear specifications, gather quotations, and develop costed proposals and contracts. Travel across the borough may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement or commissioning for SEND.
• Understanding of EHC Plans and SEND components.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and light-touch procurement.

Responsibilities

• Source and negotiate SEND provision including independent/specialist education and therapies.
• Interpret needs from EHC Plans to create clear, outcome-focused provider specifications.
• Use frameworks and spot purchasing; gather multiple quotations and apply commercial judgement.
• Prepare costed proposals and business cases with options and risks.
• Prepare contracts with KPIs/outcomes and data sharing arrangements.
• Monitor in-year performance signals and coordinate remedial actions.

Skills

Procurement experience

Commissioning

SEND knowledge

Contract negotiation

SEND Code of Practice

Stakeholder communication

Initiative

Travel across borough

Job description

At Cheshire East we’re making significant, tangible investments in our foundations. This includes strengthening our commissioning function, expanding workforce development and creating clearer, more ambitious pathways. To realise these ambitions, we’re seeking ambitious and flexible individuals who want to help us shape the future.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Brokerage Officer - SEND based at Delamere House, Crewe. To deliver active brokerage for children and young people with SEND, sourcing and negotiating education, health and social care packages (e.g. specialist placements, therapies, support) that align with assessed needs/EHC Plans, represent value for money, and are compliant with quality and safeguarding requirements.

The successful candidate will:

• Source and negotiate SEND provision (e.g., independent/specialist education, AP elements, therapies, support at home/community), ensuring suitability, cost efficiency and timely start dates.
• Interpret needs (EHC Plans/assessments) to produce clear, outcome focused specifications for providers; seek innovative solutions where markets are tight.
• Use frameworks and spot purchasing appropriately; gather multiple quotations/options; apply commercial judgement within agreed tolerances.
• Prepare costed proposals and business cases for approval, setting out options, risks, mitigations and impact on sufficiency/VFM.
• Prepare contracts following placement in line with agreed provision and cost, to include service delivery arrangements (KPIs/outcomes, review points, safeguarding contacts, data sharing) and ensure accurate, secure records.
• Monitor in year performance signals (missed sessions, complaints, incidents) with Commissioning Managers/QA colleagues and recommend remedial actions.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Experience of procurement / commissioning or SEND.
• Demonstrable experience in brokerage and/or commissioning
• Experience of contract negotiation in SEND / Education / Health / Social Care.
• Knowledge or SEND Code of Practice basics, EHC Plan components, safeguarding and light-touch procurement principles.
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Ability to work on own initiative within parameters
• Have a flexible approach
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
  • Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
  • Off-Peak Racket Sports
  • Athletics Tracks
  • Sauna/Steam/Spa