Childrens Provision Lead

Blackpool Council is seeking an experienced, motivated and strategic professional to join our Commissioning Team as a Children's Provision Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the provision of homes, education placements and support services for some of Blackpool's most vulnerable children and young people. Working across Children's Services, Finance and Commissioning, you will lead a dedicated team responsible for securing the right provision at the right time, ensuring positive outcomes while delivering value for money. As Children's Provision Lead, you will act as the bridge between operational professionals and the provider market, developing effective relationships, influencing provision development and helping ensure Blackpool meets its statutory sufficiency duties.

• Leading and managing the Home Finding.
• Overseeing the sourcing of residential, fostering, education and support placements for children and young people.
• Negotiating provider fees and uplifts to ensure value for money and effective use of resources.
• Working closely with Children's Services and Finance colleagues to monitor placement costs, implement step-down plans and reduce drift and delay.
• Building strong relationships with providers, local authorities and framework partners.
• Using market intelligence, data and forecasting to identify gaps in provision and support strategic planning.
• Monitoring high-cost provider portfolios and supporting innovative solutions for children with complex needs.
• Contributing to quality assurance arrangements and oversight of high-risk and unregulated settings.
• Producing high-quality analysis and reports to inform commissioning decisions and future sufficiency planning.
  We're looking for a confident leader with strong commissioning, partnership and negotiation skills who can work effectively across a complex system., Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience within Children's Services or Children's Commissioning.
• Significant knowledge of Children's Services, commissioning processes and relevant statutory and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of working collaboratively with providers and external partners.
• Strong analytical, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience of managing and developing staff.
• The ability to influence and negotiate effectively, particularly in relation to provider pricing and value for money.

Desirable

• Experience of commissioning, procurement and contract management.
• Experience of working within local government or a commissioning environment.

At Blackpool Council, our vision is to create a thriving economy and stronger communities where people are proud to live, work and visit. We are committed to delivering high-quality services that improve lives and create opportunities for children, young people and families. If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, have the leadership skills to shape the market and can drive best value from commissioned services, we would love to hear from you. Join us and help ensure every child in Blackpool has access to the right care, support and opportunities to thrive., We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory reference history of at least two years, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of Right to Work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.