Senior Broker - Adult Social Care in Epping

To coordinate the brokering of services on behalf of Adult Social Care for residents with social care needs using understanding of client groups, systems, care markets and negotiation skills to ensure that appropriate, value for money care is commissioned. To ensure referrals for discharges from hospital are facilitated in a responsive way to the targeted timeframes of the NHSE guidance and within 3 hours of a resident becoming optimised for discharge. To respond in a timely way to community referrals to source and purchase appropriate settings to meet the needs of the residents.

Responsibilities

• Brokerage and Commissioning
  • Coordinate the sourcing, negotiation, and commissioning of care and support services for adults with social care needs.
  • Use knowledge of client groups, care pathways, and the local care market to identify appropriate placements and care packages.
  • Negotiate with providers to achieve value for money while ensuring quality and suitability of care.
  • Ensure commissioned services meet assessed needs and are compliant with relevant policies and frameworks.
• Hospital Discharge
  • Facilitate referrals for residents ready for discharge from hospital in line with NHS England guidance.
  • Respond within 3 hours of a resident being optimised for discharge to secure appropriate care arrangements.
  • Support discharge activity 7 days a week between 8:00am and 5:30pm, ensuring timely and effective transitions from hospital to community settings.
  • Work collaboratively with hospital teams, discharge hubs, and partner organisations to reduce delays and prevent unnecessary hospital stays.
• Community Referrals
  • Respond promptly to community-based referrals requiring the sourcing and purchasing of care and support.
  • Identify suitable care settings, including home care, residential, nursing, and specialist provision, based on assessed needs.
  • Ensure timely placement to prevent escalation, admission, or breakdown of existing care arrangements.
• Professional Practice and Collaboration
  • Act as a senior point of contact for complex brokerage cases and placement challenges.
  • Maintain effective working relationships with providers, social work teams, health colleagues, and commissioning teams.
  • Ensure accurate recording, monitoring, and reporting of brokerage activity.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of brokerage processes and market engagement.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Experience of brokerage, commissioning, placements, or care purchasing within Adult Social Care or a related setting.
• Strong understanding of Adult Social Care systems, hospital discharge processes, and care pathways.
• Knowledge of the local care market and experience negotiating with providers.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meet tight timescales.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organisational skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working within a local authority or integrated health and social care setting.
• Experience handling complex or urgent hospital discharge cases.
• Knowledge of NHS England discharge guidance and integrated discharge models.

Working Hours

This role operates on a rota basis to support service delivery:

• Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am - 5:15pm
• Saturday: 9:00am - 4:00pm
• Bank Holidays: 9:00am - 4:00pm