Contract & Commissioning Officer

4Recruitment Services Ltd; Ringwood; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

4Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking a Contract & Commissioning Officer to support the Placements Service in Southampton, with hybrid flexibility. The role focuses on securing high-quality placements for looked-after children and families, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding and statutory requirements.

The post requires degree-level education or equivalent experience, strong negotiation and liaison skills, and the ability to work across care providers and local

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Strong communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with professionals, agencies and service providers.
• Excellent organisational skills, with confidence in managing placement reviews, contractual information and accurate records.
• Strong data competency and the ability to assess service quality, costs and outcomes.
• A proactive, flexible and motivated approach, with a commitment to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge of local authority statutory commissioning responsibilities across Children’s and Adult Social Care, particularly residential care, fostering and education provision for pupils with SEN, would be advantageous. A commissioning qualification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and broker suitable fostering, residential and other social care placements, ensuring the best possible match for each child or young person.
• Monitor and review Individual Placement Agreements and commissioned services to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, policies and practice guidance.
• Negotiate placement costs, service provision and favourable contract terms, ensuring quality, positive outcomes and best value for the Local Authority.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with care providers, social care teams, commissioners and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to support placement decisions and resolve contractual issues.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Relationship-building

Collaborative working

Organisational skills

Data competency

Safeguarding commitment

Commissioning knowledge

Education

Degree-level education

Job description

Contract & Commissioning Officer

Location: Southampton, SO14 and Hybrid working

Job Type: Temporary

Pay Rate: £20.98 (PAYE) or £29.30 per hour (Umbrella)

Are you a motivated, skilled professional with experience in social care, commissioning or placements? We are seeking a Contract & Commissioning Officer to join its friendly, supportive and hardworking Placements Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in securing high-quality, appropriate placements and services for looked-after children, young people and their families, helping to achieve positive outcomes and support their long-term wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and broker suitable fostering, residential and other social care placements, ensuring the best possible match for each child or young person.
• Monitor and review Individual Placement Agreements and commissioned services to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, policies and practice guidance.
• Negotiate placement costs, service provision and favourable contract terms, ensuring quality, positive outcomes and best value for the Local Authority.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with care providers, social care teams, commissioners and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to support placement decisions and resolve contractual issues.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Strong communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with professionals, agencies and service providers.
• Excellent organisational skills, with confidence in managing placement reviews, contractual information and accurate records.
• Strong data competency and the ability to assess service quality, costs and outcomes.
• A proactive, flexible and motivated approach, with a commitment to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge of local authority statutory commissioning responsibilities across Children's and Adult Social Care, particularly residential care, fostering and education provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN), would be advantageous. A commissioning qualification is desirable.

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. We are an equal opportunity agency