Commissioning Officer – Childrens Social Care (E3756) in Crewe

At Cheshire East we’re making significant, tangible investments in our foundations. This includes strengthening our commissioning function, expanding workforce development and creating clearer, more ambitious pathways. To realise these ambitions, we’re seeking experienced, flexible individuals who want to help us shape the future. We have an exciting opportunity for a Commissioning Officer – Children’s Social Care, based at Delamere House, Crewe.

To provide operational commissioning support and delivery for Children’s Social Care (CSC) working closely with colleagues in SEND, joint commissioning, placements and QA.

About the Role

You will be expected to work flexibly across portfolios to meet business need and priorities. Portfolio focus may be re-prioritised through commissioning governance (HoS/boards) to meet system pressures (e.g. sufficiency, inspection, provider risk). You will support the commissioning cycle, contract management and market engagement activity to help secure high-quality, sufficient and value-for-money services for children, young people and families.

The successful candidate will:

• Support delivery of commissioning activity for CSC working with colleagues in SEND, joint commissioning and placements and QA portfolios.
• Contribute to needs analysis, service reviews and evidence gathering to inform commissioning intentions and service redesign.
• Support procurement activity, including preparing tender documentation, evaluation materials and contract documentation, in line with procurement regulations.
• Carry out day to day contract management tasks such as monitoring performance data, tracking spends, arranging review meetings and maintaining contract records.
• Liaise with Placements & Brokerage colleagues to provide commissioning intelligence on demand, availability and cost trends.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes and data returns for managers, inspections and partnership meetings.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Experience or training in commissioning or public service.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills within a supporting capacity to commissioning contracts or service delivery teams.
• An overview of commissioning processes, safeguarding principles and public-sector working.
• Application of needs assessment, outcomes-based commissioning and performance management approaches.
• Excellent understanding of information governance, equality duties and basic safeguarding requirements.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Flexible approach to work.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough.

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave– Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service.
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Flexible working pattern– Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible.
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme– Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme.
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme – Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme.
• Enhanced public pension– Secure your future with our career average pension.
• Cycle to work scheme – Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment.
• Employee assistance programme– Access a completely free and confidential assistance service.
• Discounted gym membership – Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure.

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you! We’re delighted that you’re considering applying for this role! As an equal opportunities’ employer, we warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better reflect and serve our local communities, and together, we can build something truly special.

Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.

We wish you all the best in your application and if you run into any technical issues, our friendly team are here to help at: childrenssocialcarerecruitment@cheshireeast.gov.uk. If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, it likely means we weren’t able to move forward with your application at this time but please don’t let this discourage you as your interest means a lot to us, and we’d truly love to hear from you again in the future!