At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commissioning activities to improve services for children and young people.
- Company: Join Walsall's Children's Commissioning Team, a supportive and ambitious local authority.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on system-wide change and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape services that directly improve outcomes for children and families in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in commissioning and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 47181 - 50269 £ per year.
This job is for two Senior Commissioning Officers (Children's Services) in Walsall. This is a pivotal moment to join Walsall's Children's Commissioning Team following significant investment and a recent restructure. We are looking for experienced commissioning professionals to design and improve services for children and young people, working across the Council and with partners to deliver high-quality, inclusive services that improve outcomes for children and young people and their families.
The Roles
- Senior Commissioning Officer - Lifelong Learning and Inclusion: This role leads commissioning activity across education-related provision and inclusive pathways, including Alternative Provision (AP), independent day and residential school placements, transitions and preparing for adulthood, and sufficiency, market development and cost control across education and learning provision.
- Senior Commissioning Officer - Early Intervention and Communities: This role focuses on commissioning across prevention and community-based pathways, including Family Hubs and early intervention systems, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF), including Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inclusion and discretionary access, development of Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) provision, and wider prevention, youth, early years and parenting support.
You will be central to strengthening prevention, reducing escalation into statutory services, and maximising the impact of quality community-based provision.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead service reviews and commissioning activity across the commissioning cycle, ensuring services are outcome-focused and deliver value for money.
- Shape and develop provider markets to improve quality and local sufficiency.
- Co-create joint commissioning strategies with education, health and social care partners.
- Champion co-production so lived experience informs service design.
- Use data and insight to inform decision-making.
- Monitor provider performance, quality and risk across our commissioned services.
- Prepare reports, business cases and recommendations for senior leaders and elected Members.
- Represent the Council at local, regional and national forums.
- Deputise for Commissioning Managers where required.
About You
You are a confident system leader with experience of commissioning in complex environments, shaping markets, working across organisational boundaries, and turning strategy into delivery. You are comfortable influencing senior stakeholders, using data to inform and drive decisions, and confident holding providers to account while building strong relationships. Most importantly, if you are motivated by improving outcomes for children, young people and families, then this is the role for you.
Why Work for Walsall?
Join a supportive and ambitious team with a clear focus on improving outcomes for children and young people. In this role, you'll have the opportunity to influence system-wide change, lead high-profile programmes of work, and further develop your career within a forward-thinking local authority.
Additional Requirements
- BPSS: All successful candidates must undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check.
- DBS: Completion of an enhanced Disclosure.
Senior Commissioning Officer - Ref: CH01626 employer: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Walsall's Children's Commissioning Team offers a dynamic and supportive work environment dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people. With significant investment and a focus on professional development, employees are empowered to lead impactful programmes and collaborate across sectors, ensuring that their work makes a meaningful difference in the community. Join us in Walsall, where your expertise will be valued, and your career can flourish in a forward-thinking local authority.
Contact Details:
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commissioning Officer - Ref: CH01626
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working in children's services. Attend local events or online webinars to make connections and learn about potential job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission to improve outcomes for children and young people. Show them you’re passionate about making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Senior Commissioning Officer role. We’ve got all the resources you need to make your application stand out, so don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commissioning Officer - Ref: CH01626
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific responsibilities of the Senior Commissioning Officer role. We want to see how you can contribute to improving services for children and young people!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your duties from previous roles; instead, focus on your achievements and the impact you've made. Use data and examples to illustrate how you've successfully led commissioning activities or improved service delivery.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role, and make sure your passion for improving outcomes shines through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. This way, you’ll ensure your application reaches us quickly and efficiently, and you won’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Senior Commissioning Officer and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with key concepts like commissioning cycles, market development, and co-production. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to lead service reviews and improve outcomes for children and young people. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easy for the interviewers to see your impact.
✨Engage with Data
Since data-driven decision-making is crucial for this role, be ready to discuss how you've used data and insights in previous positions. Bring examples of how your analytical skills have led to successful commissioning outcomes or improved service delivery.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your ability to influence senior stakeholders and build strong relationships across organisational boundaries. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with various partners in the past, as this will show your capability to work effectively within Walsall's Children's Commissioning Team.
