Commissioning Manager - Adult Social Care

Purpose of the Post
To support the Head of Adult Commissioning with strategic planning, policy development, and commissioning of services for adult social care. To be responsible for the leadership of strategic commissioning, service development and transformation in a complex and challenging environment, ensuring best use of resources, delivery of strategic outcomes and responsiveness to local need. To provide managerial direction and oversight of the commissioning process by co‑ordinating the commissioning activities of a team of staff to ensure the effective delivery of a comprehensive commissioning work program. To work in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure that commissioned services are strategically relevant, person centred and high quality.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Take strategic responsibility and leadership for a defined portfolio and drive forwards service development and transformation using national best practice, legislation, evidence based information and data to define service models and opportunities.
• Lead on the development and publication of commissioning strategies and plans that will ensure services are commissioned against agreed corporate, directorate, strategic and customer‑based needs assessments, having co‑production at the centre.
• Ensure new provision is commissioned in line with the Council’s Constitution and financial regulations, including any requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.
• Provide oversight of any procurement process and ensure good quality specification development and outcome‑based performance frameworks.
• Ensure good understanding of available compliant routes to market, which may include the use of grant agreements, and seek support from the Strategic Procurement Team where required.
• Support and provide oversight to the development and commissioning of new services in line with strategic aims and priorities and to the de‑commissioning of services where relevant.
• Identify areas for efficiency and improvement and make the most effective use of resources when commissioning, through identifying, assessing and evaluating different approaches, alternative service models and reviewing the evidence base, in order to ensure achieve value for money, demonstrating cost effectiveness.
• Conduct and contribute to comprehensive needs assessments, including the analysis of social care, housing, health, and demographic data to inform service planning and delivery.
• Develop effective work programmes for the team of Officers; including contributing to the development of social care, housing and health strategies and policies.
• Ensure appropriate market, budget and performance information is available, maintained and analysed.
• Support the delivery of budget savings in line with Directorate objectives and ensure all services procured provide value for money by undertaking regular benchmarking in regard to quality and price for commissioned provision.
• Be responsible for the delivery of best value for services commissioned and ensure good negotiation with regard to fee uplifts and price increases.
• Take an active role in the regional, sub‑regional and inter‑agency joint working and commissioning.
• Prepare and present reports on work programme activities to senior management, committees, boards, Council, Executive and other stakeholders as required.
• Oversee the production of regular reporting as required, utilising available information from dashboards, JSNA and other data sources.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners including other Directorates, ICBs and other health bodies, central government departments, CQC, voluntary sector providers, and independent sector providers.
• Establish and maintain contact with the market place to ensure awareness of latest trends and sector initiatives.
• Ensure the care, support and housing markets are fully developed to meet the requirements of our customers, and that market position statements are reflective and up to date.
• Consult, engage, collaborate with and involve providers, customers and carers in the development of commissioning plans and strategies.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with commissioning services, including service delivery risks, financial risks, and compliance risks.
• Take responsibility for decision making of escalated issues, professional judgements and delegation as appropriate.
• Offer advice and guidance to all staff, including operational directorate staff, in respect of any commissioning activities and market change or development.
• Identify opportunities to digitalise processes within the teams, ensuring efficiencies in working practices.
• Provide strategic guidance to Officers who oversee the management of contracts with service providers, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Take the lead under the direction of the Head of Adult Commissioning in respect of the delivery, output and performance of the commissioning team; deputise for the Head of Adult Commissioning as and when required.