Strategic Commissioning Manager (Disabilities and Autism Team)

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority is seeking a Strategic Commissioning Manager to enhance care for individuals with disabilities and autism in Aylesbury. This leadership role involves overseeing service planning, working with various stakeholders to ensure high-quality, integrated care. The ideal candidate will possess clinical experience, commissioning skills, and the ability to manage complex projects. This position supports the council's commitment to improving lives through effective public services, offering flexible working arrangements and a culture of inclusion.

Benefits

Flexibility in work arrangements

Discounts on cafes and restaurants

Access to wellness initiatives

Generous pension scheme

Discounted gym memberships

Qualifications

• Leads strategic commissioning and contract management activities.
• Ensures Care & Treatment Reviews are timely.
• Translates population needs into integrated service provision.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commissioning cycle across Disabilities & Autism team.
• Engage with stakeholders to shape services.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across services.

Skills

Clinical experience of inpatient care

Commissioning within health or social care

Strong communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Innovative service delivery

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Job description

Strategic Commissioning Manager (Disabilities and Autism Team)

Location: Aylesbury

This role will include organising and facilitating Care & Treatment Reviews, leading on the Dynamic Support Register, and overseeing discharge planning and the quality of care for inpatients with a learning disability and autistic people. The post holder will work with the multi-disciplinary teams when individuals with a learning disability and/or autism are in mental health crisis to prevent hospital admissions or reduce the time spent in hospital.

This is a key leadership role where you’ll help shape and deliver integrated, high-quality services that improve outcomes for individuals and our communities.

Our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub brings together strategic commissioners with operational commissioning, including Quality and Placements, and procurement colleagues. By combining our skills, experiences and lessons learned, we ensure the most effective approach to supporting all stages of the commissioning cycle, complementing other Council teams to maximise the quality and value for money for our residents.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

About the role

As Strategic Commissioning Manager, you will lead the commissioning cycle across one of the key portfolios in the Disabilities & Autism team. You’ll work closely with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other partners to ensure services are safe, effective, and value for money.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading strategic commissioning and contract management activities.
• Carrying out inpatient oversight visits.
• Ensuring Care & Treatment Reviews are carried out in a timely way.
• Maintaining and developing the Dynamic Support Register.
• Translating population needs into integrated service provision.
• Matrix management of a team of Commissioning Officers / Commissioning Support Officers.
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement across services.
• Engaging with providers, communities, and stakeholders to shape services.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and safeguarding standards.
• Supporting business planning, financial oversight, and risk mitigation.
• Deputising for the Strategic Commissioning Lead when required.

This role offers the opportunity to influence long-term service planning and contribute to shaping the future of commissioning services for autistic people and people with disabilities in Buckinghamshire.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You will be a confident and strategic leader with:

• Clinical experience of inpatient care in learning disability or mental health services
• Experience in commissioning within health or social care.
• Knowledge of the commissioning cycle and relevant legislation.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A track record of delivering innovative, outcome-focused services.
• The ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities.
• A collaborative mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement.

You’ll be educated to degree level (or equivalent), with a passion for improving lives through high-quality public services. You’ll also be comfortable working across organisational boundaries and leading multi-agency initiatives.

Please see job summary attached for full details about the role.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.