Children with Complex Health Needs Commissioner

Southampton City Council; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Southampton City Council is seeking a fixed-term Children with Complex Needs Commissioner to lead and coordinate commissioning for children and young people with complex health and care needs. You will work across social care, health, education and CAMHS to drive robust decision-making and timely, quality placements.

The role focuses on developing effective pathways and reducing delays, within a collaborative Children’s Services team.

Qualifications

• Experience of commissioning, children's services, health or complex multi-agency working.
• Understanding needs of children with complex needs, disabilities, mental health or specialist placements.
• Excellent partnership, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Experience analysing complex information and translating into commissioning solutions.
• Knowledge of legislation, SEND reforms, CCC processes and integrated working.
• Ability to influence across organisations and drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning and funding arrangements for children and young people with complex needs.
• Coordinate Children's Continuing Care (CCC) processes and support joint decision-making across agencies.
• Act as the key link between social care, health, education, CAMHS and wider partners.
• Quality assure referrals and funding submissions to ensure robust, evidence-based decisions.
• Support the development of effective pathways, panels and processes that improve outcomes.
• Contribute to service sufficiency planning, market development and value-for-money commissioning.
• Use data, performance information and intelligence to drive service improvement and strategic planning.
• Based in the office 3 days a week.

Skills

Commissioning

Multi-agency working

Partnerships

Negotiation

Relationship management

Data analysis

Legislation & SEND reforms

Influencing across organisations

Job description

Are you interested in helping to shape high-quality services for children, young people and families in Southampton? We have an exciting opportunity for a fixed term (until March 2028) Children with Complex health and care needs Commissioner post to join Southampton City Council’s Children’s Commissioning Team.

About the team:

You will join a supportive and collaborative Children’s Commissioning Team working closely with the Children’s Services and Learning Senior Leadership team within Southampton City Council. The team commissions a broad range of children’s services, including support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, children in care, care leavers, youth provision, prevention and early intervention. This post will specifically focus on services for children with complex health and care needs, leading and coordinating commissioning activity and individual funding arrangements for children and young people with complex needs, including residential, specialist and multi-agency placements.

Following Children’s Services’ Ofsted rating of Good, with Outstanding Leadership, this is a great time to contribute to continued improvement.

About the role:

As the Children with Complex Needs Commissioner, you will:

• Lead commissioning and funding arrangements for children and young people with complex needs.
• Coordinate Children's Continuing Care (CCC) processes and support joint decision-making across agencies.
• Act as the key link between social care, health, education, CAMHS and wider partners.
• Quality assure referrals and funding submissions to ensure robust, evidence-based decisions.
• Support the development of effective pathways, panels and processes that improve outcomes and reduce delays.
• Contribute to service sufficiency planning, market development and value-for-money commissioning.
• Use data, performance information and intelligence to drive service improvement and strategic planning.
• Based in the office 3 days a week.

For further information about the role please view the job description.

About you:

• Experience of commissioning, children's services, health, social care or complex multi-agency working.
• Strong understanding of the needs of children and young people with complex needs, disabilities, mental health needs and/or specialist placements.
• Excellent partnership, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Experience of analysing complex information and translating this into effective commissioning solutions.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, SEND reforms, Children's Continuing Care processes and integrated working arrangements.
• The ability to influence across organisations and drive improvements in practice and outcomes.

If you want to make a positive difference and have the background, experience and skills for this Children with Complex needs Commissioner role, we would like to hear from you.

What we can offer you:

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)