Head of Commissioning - Children's Residential Services

Compass Associates; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading provider of children's services in the UK is looking for a Head of Commissioning to manage the referral process and improve outcomes for children. The candidate should have a recognized qualification in social work and experience in children’s services, particularly in placements and referrals. This full-time role offers a salary of £70,000 - £75,000 plus bonus and involves significant interaction with local authorities and stakeholders.

Benefits

Bonus

Potential for career development

Qualifications

• Proven experience within children’s services, ideally with a background in placements, referrals or commissioning.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks for children’s homes.
• Experience managing complex referrals and achieving positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end management of referrals from initial triage to placement decision.
• Oversee and improve referral conversion processes to maximise occupancy and service efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Local Authorities and commissioning bodies.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Decision-making skills

Collaborative skills

Education

Recognised qualification in social work or related field

Job description

Head of Commissioning - Children's Residential Services

Regular travel across the UK

£70,000 - £75,000 + Bonus

Full Time / Permanent

Compass Associates are working exclusively with a leading provider of specialist children’s residential services to appoint a Head of Commissioning. This newly created position will play a pivotal role in shaping how referrals are managed and converted across the organisation's national portfolio of homes.

The Role

This is a senior appointment requiring a confident, strategic leader with deep operational knowledge of children’s residential care and a strong understanding of how placements and referrals drive both quality and commercial success.

The successful candidate will be responsible for reviewing, managing and triaging all incoming referrals, ensuring decisions are informed, compliant and child-focused. They will work closely with Registered Managers, Local Authorities and commissioning partners to maintain strong relationships, increase placement conversion and ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end management of referrals, from initial triage to placement decision
• Oversee and improve referral conversion processes to maximise occupancy and service efficiency
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Local Authorities, social work teams and commissioning bodies
• Ensure all activity complies with children’s homes regulations and relevant legislation
• Analyse referral data and trends, reporting regularly to the senior leadership team
• Support service development through insights, training and continuous improvement initiatives

Candidate Requirements

• Recognised qualification in social work, social care or a related field
• Proven experience within children’s services, ideally with a background in placements, referrals or commissioning
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks for children’s homes
• Excellent communication, analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders
• Experience managing complex referrals and achieving positive outcomes

This role would suit

A senior social care professional or social work-qualified leader with significant experience managing referrals or placements, who is motivated by improving outcomes for children while supporting organisational growth.

Recommendations

Compass Associates Ltd are working in partnership on this position. If you are not interested but know someone who is, we offer £200 in vouchers for successful recommendations.