Contract & Commissioning Officer

4Recruitment Services Ltd; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

4Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking a Contract & Commissioning Officer in Southampton with hybrid working. The role focuses on securing high-quality placements for looked-after children and families, with emphasis on safeguarding and service improvement.

The ideal candidate will have degree-level education or equivalent experience, strong negotiation and communication skills, and the ability to manage placement reviews and contracts while ensuring best value and compliance.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• 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.

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

Negotiation

Relationship-building

Organisational skills

Data literacy

Safeguarding

Commissioning knowledge

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

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.

Why Apply?

Join a supportive team where your expertise can make a meaningful difference to children’s lives.

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices.

We are an equal opportunity agency.