Strategic Joint Commissioning Lead for Children & SEND

Cheshire East Council; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Purchase of additional annual leave (±

Hybrid/remote working where possible

Salary sacrifice electric car

Salary sacrifice white goods

Career average pension

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Cheshire East Council is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager – Joint Commissioning to lead portfolio strategy across the council and system partners. Based at Delamere House, Crewe, the role focuses on strengthening commissioning for Children’s Social Care and SEND, delivering plans that secure sufficiency, quality and value for money.

The successful candidate will drive market management, procurement and performance assurance within a complex public-sector environment, ensuring safeguarding

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in commissioning, public service or related field.
• Substantial experience of commissioning services for children and young people.
• Demonstrable experience of strategy development, market management, contracting and performance in a complex public-sector environment.
• Extensive understanding of the commissioning cycle.
• Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice, Children Act duties, and procurement regulations.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding expectations and quality assurance principles.
• Experience applying needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning benefits realisation and options appraisal techniques.

Responsibilities

• Act as the strategic portfolio lead for joint commissioning with accountability for outcomes, quality, sufficiency and spend.
• Develop and refresh portfolio commissioning and joint commissioning strategies and action plans.
• Lead needs assessment, demand and sufficiency analysis using data to shape commissioning and business cases.
• Shape and manage provider markets, develop market position statements, frameworks and regional commissioning arrangements.
• Lead complex procurement, contracting and negotiation to ensure value for money and social value.
• Oversee contract management and performance assurance with QA colleagues to address underperformance and safeguarding concerns.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data & insight

Needs assessment

Market management

Contracting & performance

Safeguarding & QA

Education

Degree or equivalent in commissioning/public service

Job description

Cheshire East Council is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager – Joint Commissioning to lead portfolio strategy across the council and system partners. Based at Delamere House, Crewe, the role focuses on strengthening commissioning for Children’s Social Care and SEND, delivering plans that secure sufficiency, quality and value for money.

The successful candidate will drive market management, procurement and performance assurance within a complex public-sector environment, ensuring safeguarding