Commissioning Officer – SEND (E3767)

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Crewe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced annual leave (34 days)

Hybrid/remote working

Salary sacrifice schemes

Cycle to work

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Cheshire East Council is seeking an experienced Commissioning Officer – SEND based in Crewe, with flexible, hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. The role focuses on operational commissioning support, contract management and market engagement to ensure high-quality, value-for-money services for children, young people and families.

You will work across CSC, joint commissioning, placements and QA portfolios, supporting procurement, performance monitoring and data reporting for

Qualifications

• Experience or training in commissioning or public service.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills within a supporting capacity to commissioning contracts or service delivery teams.
• An overview of commissioning processes, safeguarding principles and public-sector working.
• Application of needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning and performance management approaches.
• Excellent understanding of information governance, equality duties and basic safeguarding requirements.
• Excellent communication skills
• Flexible approach to work
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of commissioning activity for SEND working with colleagues in CSC, joint commissioning and placements and QA portfolios.
• Contribute to needs analysis, service reviews and evidence gathering to inform commissioning intentions and service redesign.
• Support procurement activity, including preparing tender documentation, evaluation materials and contract documentation, in line with procurement regulations.
• Carry out day to day contract management tasks such as monitoring performance data, tracking spends, arranging review meetings and maintaining contract records.
• Liaise with Placements & Brokerage colleagues to provide commissioning intelligence on demand, availability and cost trends.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes and data returns for managers, inspections and partnership meetings.

Skills

Commissioning experience

Administrative skills

Governance knowledge

Needs assessment

Performance management

Information governance

Communication skills

Flexibility

Travel willingness

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 experienced, flexible individuals who want to help us shape the future.

We have an exciting opportunity for aCommissioning Officer – SEND, based at Delamere House, Crewe. To provide operational commissioning support and delivery for SEND working closely with colleagues in Children’s Social Care (CSC), joint commissioning, placements and QA .

About the Role

You will be expected to work flexibly across portfolios to meet business need and priorities. Portfolio focus may be re-prioritised through commissioning governance (HoS/boards) to meet system pressures (e.g. sufficiency, inspection, provider risk).

You will support the commissioning cycle, contract management and market engagement activity to help secure high‑quality, sufficient and value‑for‑money services for children, young people and families.

The successful candidate will:

• Support delivery of commissioning activity for SEND working with colleagues in CSC, joint commissioning and placements and QA portfolios.
• Contribute to needs analysis, service reviews and evidence gathering to inform commissioning intentions and service redesign.
• Support procurement activity, including preparing tender documentation, evaluation materials and contract documentation, in line with procurement regulations.
• Carry out day to day contract management tasks such as monitoring performance data, tracking spends, arranging review meetings and maintaining contract records.
• Liaise with Placements & Brokerage colleagues to provide commissioning intelligence on demand, availability and cost trends.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes and data returns for managers, inspections and partnership meetings.

The successful candidate will bring

• Experience or training in commissioning or public service.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills within a supporting capacity to commissioning contracts or service delivery teams.
• An overview of commissioning processes, safeguarding principles and public-sector working.
• Application of needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning and performance management approaches.
• Excellent understanding of information governance, equality duties and basic safeguarding requirements.
• Excellent communication skills
• Flexible approach to work
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough

If you would like to have a confidential conversation about this post prior to application, please contact Natalie Kelly email:[e-mail]

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave– Start with an impressive34 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 purchaseup to 10 extra daysof 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 a37-hour standard full-time work weekwith 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 ourcareer 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

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!

Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.

Company: Cheshire East Council

Salary: £35,412 – £39,152 per annum

Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Sector: Health and Social Care

Job Role: Officer