Senior Brokerage Officer

East-Sussex-County-Council; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

East Sussex County Council is seeking a Senior Brokerage Officer to join the fast-paced Children’s Home Finding & Commissioning Team in East Sussex. The role focuses on provider engagement, contract oversight, and quality assurance to ensure high-quality, value-for-money services for looked-after children.

You will lead on negotiating fees, monitor contracts, and support service development across fostering, residential, and specialist support, collaborating with social work teams and partners

Qualifications

• Experience in commissioning, provider management or contract oversight.
• Knowledge of looked-after children needs and related legislation.
• Ability to engage with providers and social work teams.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills.
• Experience in health or social care settings.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with providers across fostering, residential, and specialist services.
• Lead on contract monitoring and oversight of framework agreements and contracts.
• Undertake provider quality assurance visits and service reviews.
• Support providers to improve quality, compliance and outcomes for children and young people.
• Provide constructive challenge on quality, performance or cost concerns.
• Negotiate fees and service arrangements to achieve value for money.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Children's Services, Health, Education and partner organisations.
• Contribute to service development, market engagement and continuous improvement.

Job description

As part of the continued development of the Children's Home Finding & Commissioning Team, we are seeking a Senior Brokerage Officer to join our fast-paced and dynamic service.

This is an excellent opportunity for an existing Home Finding & Commissioning Officer to take the next step in their career and further develop their skills in commissioning, provider relationship management, contract oversight and quality assurance.

The role plays a key part in ensuring East Sussex County Council maintains effective partnerships with providers, delivers robust contract monitoring arrangements and secures high-quality, value-for-money services that meet the needs of children and young people. Working closely with providers, social work teams and partner agencies, you will support service quality, provider performance and market sufficiency across a range of commissioned placements and support services.

As a Senior Brokerage Officer, you will lead on provider engagement and relationship management, undertake quality assurance activity, support the oversight of framework agreements and contracts, and provide robust challenge where concerns around quality, compliance or cost arise. You will also play an important role in negotiating fees and service arrangements to ensure the effective use of resources whilst achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

What You'll Be Doing

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with providers across fostering, residential, supported accommodation and specialist support services.
• Leading on contract monitoring and supporting the oversight of framework agreements and provider contracts.
• Undertaking provider quality assurance visits and service reviews.
• Supporting providers to continuously improve quality, compliance and outcomes for children and young people.
• Providing constructive challenge where concerns relating to quality, performance or cost arise.
• Negotiating fees and service arrangements to achieve value for money.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Children's Services, Health, Education and partner organisations.
• Contributing to service development, market engagement and continuous improvement activity.

We are keen to hear from Home Finding & Commissioning Officers who are looking to take the next step in their career and further develop their knowledge and experience within commissioning, provider management and contract oversight.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Understanding of the needs of looked after children and the legislation and policy that pertains to the placement and commissioning role.
• Experience of working in a Health or Social Care setting.
• Ability to robustly challenge, advocate and balance need, risk, quality and cost.
• An understanding of commissioning
• Ability to engage with and support children and young people in relation to obtaining feedback around placement and package quality.

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

Interviews will take place in person at St Mary's House, Eastbourne on Wednesday 4th November 2026.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist.

Work with an organisation who possess clear vision, strong leadership and help to create an environment of stability and security for children.Take the next step in your career and help shape high-quality services that make a difference to the lives of children and young people across East Sussex

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

Vocational Training through Apprenticeships is now available to our staff, ranging from entry level to degree level qualifications. You can talk to the hiring manager and the apprenticeship team about what qualifications would be relevant to you and this job role, and if it is possible to support you in apprenticeship training.

For an informal discussion please contact: Bradley Hollick- [e-mail]

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!