At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the commissioning of services for older adults and drive innovative care models.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a hub of culture and opportunity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of older people while shaping future services.
- Qualifications: Experience in adult social care commissioning and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 73602 - 77550 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO11 £73,602 - £77,550
Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 09/06/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): Week beginning 8th June.
Reference: 2155
About Us:
Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Strategic Commissioning function as Head of Commissioning & Market Quality – Age Well, leading the commissioning of services for older adults across a complex and evolving health and care landscape. In this pivotal leadership role, you will shape and deliver commissioning strategies that drive high quality, sustainable and outcome focused services, promoting independence, wellbeing and choice for residents. Central to this is our Mission Waltham Forest ambition, with a strong focus on strengths based approaches, prevention and enabling people to live independently for as long as possible. You will lead a high performing team and work collaboratively with partners across health, the voluntary sector and provider markets to develop innovative, integrated models of care that respond to local need and deliver real impact. You will play a key role in market development and oversight, ensuring a diverse, resilient provider market and strong contract and quality frameworks that continuously improve service standards. We are looking for an innovative leader with a strong track record in adult social care commissioning, excellent partnership and influencing skills, and the ability to deliver change at pace. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of older people while shaping the future of commissioning in the borough.
Key Responsibilities:
- Degree‑level education; post‑graduate and relevant professional qualification.
- Significant experience in adult social care commissioning, especially for older adults.
- Strong leadership and people‑management skills.
- Excellent knowledge of the Care Act 2014, procurement rules and commissioning legislation.
- Proven ability to manage budgets, deliver savings and ensure value for money.
- Strong analytical, negotiation and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
- Experience developing commissioning strategies, managing provider markets and leading partnerships.
- Deep understanding of older adults’ needs, policy drivers, best practice and innovation.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Lead strategic commissioning for Age Well services, ensuring high‑quality, outcome‑focused provision.
- Oversee commissioning strategies, service transformation and market‑shaping activity.
- Manage teams of commissioning, quality and contract managers.
- Build strong partnerships across health, voluntary sector and community organisations.
- Ensure robust contract management, quality assurance and risk management.
- Drive innovation, including technology‑enabled care and integrated pathways.
- Manage commissioning budgets and monitor performance using data and analytics.
- Provide expert advice to senior leaders, members and partners.
- Lead high‑value commissioning, redesign and de‑commissioning projects.
- Ensure compliance with statutory duties, safeguarding and procurement regulations.
Terms and conditions:
The below terms and conditions apply to this role:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
- Satisfactory declaration of interest;
- This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults;
- Satisfactory DBS check;
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Vincent Edwards, Interim Head of Commissioning and Market Quality – Live Well Vincent.Edwards@walthamforest.gov.uk
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
Head of Commissioning & Market Quality - Age Well in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work environment that champions diversity and inclusion while prioritising employee well-being and professional growth. As a Good Work Standard employer, we provide competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for meaningful impact in the community, particularly in enhancing the lives of older adults through innovative commissioning strategies. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking council that values creativity, collaboration, and the development of its workforce.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commissioning & Market Quality - Age Well in Walthamstow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference at Waltham Forest.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your experience in adult social care commissioning and how it aligns with the role's requirements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team at Waltham Forest and contributing to the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commissioning & Market Quality - Age Well in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how your values align with our mission at Waltham Forest. Share specific examples of your experience in adult social care commissioning and how it connects to improving the lives of older adults.
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Make sure your supporting statement is tailored to the job description. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the key responsibilities. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background to what we’re looking for!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit for the Head of Commissioning & Market Quality role.
Apply Early!:Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can! Applying through our website is the best way to ensure your application is received.
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Care Act 2014 and any relevant commissioning legislation. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the basics, but that you truly understand the framework within which the London Borough of Waltham Forest operates.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, especially in adult social care commissioning. Highlight your ability to manage budgets and deliver savings while ensuring high-quality services. This is a key part of the role, so make it shine!
✨Demonstrate Partnership Building
Think about times when you've built strong partnerships across health, voluntary sectors, or community organisations. Be ready to share specific examples of how these collaborations have led to innovative solutions or improved outcomes for older adults.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges in commissioning for older adults. Prepare by thinking through potential scenarios and your approach to market development, quality assurance, and risk management. This will help you articulate your strategic thinking during the interview.
