At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to improve children's social care services.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, committed to supporting children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and continuous learning in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping future service delivery.
- Qualifications: Degree level education or equivalent experience in project management and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 50847 - 55602 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall Glenfield LE3 8RA
Salary: £50,847 - £55,602 Per annum (pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: 37 Hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 18th November 2026
Interview Date(s): 11th December 2026
Are you an experienced leader who can inspire teams, drive improvement and deliver results in a complex and fast-paced environment? If so, this could be the ideal role for you.
We are seeking an ambitious and motivated Children’s Social Care Commissioning Manager to join our Children's Commissioning Service. We are a busy service where no two days are the same.
This is a key leadership role with overall responsibility for overseeing our Brokerage and Negotiation, Contract Monitoring and Review, and Quality Assurance functions.
Working collaboratively with colleagues, providers and partners, you will build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships whilst ensuring services are delivered consistently, efficiently and to a high standard.
Working alongside colleagues across the Children and Family Service, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring commissioning activity is effective, robust and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people. You will provide direction, professional leadership and management oversight across a range of functions, supporting teams to deliver high-quality services whilst ensuring resources are used effectively.
About the Role
We are looking for someone who can bring fresh thinking, challenge existing approaches and drive continuous improvement across the service. You will lead by example, promoting a culture of accountability, innovation and high performance whilst ensuring that policies, governance arrangements and commissioning processes are applied consistently and effectively.
You will work closely with operational colleagues, senior leaders and providers to:
- Drive service improvement and innovation across Children's Commissioning.
- Support transformation activity, helping the service develop innovative approaches that improve outcomes, enhance efficiency and support delivery of the Council's financial objective.
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency and deliver savings.
- Contribute to the authority's Medium Term Financial Strategy objectives through effective oversight, challenge and strategic leadership.
- Provide leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of Brokerage and Negotiation, Contract Monitoring and Review, and Quality Assurance functions, ensuring compliance with commissioning, placement and contract management processes whilst identifying trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Monitor performance and use data and intelligence to support decision-making.
- Promote consistency and best practice across teams.
- Support effective provider relationships, ensuring services deliver quality, value and positive outcomes.
- Develop and support a highly motivated workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in a service that plays a vital role in supporting children and young people. You will join a committed and supportive team with the opportunity to shape future service delivery, influence service developments and contribute to meaningful improvements across Children's Services.
If you are an innovative and collaborative leader who is committed to excellence, we would love to hear from you.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- Educated to Degree level OR Demonstrable evidence of delivering change in a complex and changing partnership environment.
- Experience of leading project work from brief to implementation using project management skills, of working in partnership with agencies, stakeholders, children/young people and parent/carers, leading and motivating staff, managing a service, implementing change, analysis/evaluation of data and prioritising tasks.
- Ability to problem solve, think and plan strategically and manage and lead staff.
- Must possess exceptional time management abilities, good liaison and negotiation skills, excellent presentation and communication skills, excellent IT and software skills, positive inter-agency and inter-disciplinary networking skills.
- Knowledge of key objectives in relation to the delivery of the projects and procurements, Equal Opportunity policies, procedures and legislation, of commissioning and contracting processes and the financial implications within Local Government.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of outcome based commissioning including procurement, contract management and financial management.
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
- Practical knowledge of the Children’s Social Care Sector.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Sarah Wilson, Service Manager Phone 0116 305 6527 Email: Sarah.Wilson@leics.gov.uk
Commissioning Manager in Glenfield employer: ESPO Trading Limited
Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work environment where your organisational and people skills can truly make a difference. With a commitment to employee growth and flexible working options, you will find opportunities to develop your career while contributing to vital services that enhance the community's resilience. Located in the heart of Glenfield, Leicester, the council fosters a culture of inclusivity and teamwork, ensuring that every employee feels valued and empowered.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commissioning Manager in Glenfield
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Commissioning Manager in Glenfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to ESPO Trading Limited:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to ESPO Trading Limited! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESPO Trading Limited
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.