At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives in Adult Social Care and manage complex commissioning projects.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Liquid Personnel, focused on transforming social care services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, free training, and a dedicated consultant for support.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional growth and a supportive work environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while advancing your career in social care.
- Qualifications: Experience in commissioning and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Our client based in Cambridgeshire is seeking an experienced Commissioning Strategic Lead to provide strategic leadership across a significant Adult Social Care commissioning portfolio.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly accomplished commissioning professional to lead the delivery of several large-scale and complex strategic programmes whilst supporting the ongoing transformation, sustainability, and development of Adult Social Care services.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in maintaining momentum across a broad range of commissioning priorities, including homecare, supported living, residential services, day opportunities, community equipment services, care homes, and self-directed support.
Working within a fast-paced and evolving environment, you will provide strong leadership to commissioning teams, oversee major procurement and recommissioning activity, and contribute to strategic planning and organisational development as a key member of the Adult Social Care Commissioning Management Team.
You will work closely with senior leaders, health partners, providers, stakeholders, and commissioning colleagues to ensure services deliver high-quality outcomes, support market sustainability, and meet the changing needs of local communities.
What will your responsibilities be?
- Providing strategic leadership across a complex Adult Social Care commissioning portfolio, ensuring the successful delivery of key commissioning priorities and transformation programmes.
- Leading the procurement and implementation of major commissioning programmes, including homecare, supported living, residential care, day opportunities, and community equipment services.
- Managing a large commissioning team, including Commissioning Managers and Commissioners, providing leadership, support, supervision, and professional development.
- Driving service improvement, market sustainability, innovation, and positive outcomes for adults, carers, and communities.
- Leading complex commissioning and procurement projects from planning and design through to implementation and evaluation.
- Developing and maintaining effective relationships with providers, health partners, local stakeholders, and community organisations.
- Supporting co-production approaches and ensuring the voices of people who use services and carers are considered throughout commissioning activities.
- Working closely with Contracts, Brokerage, Market Development, and operational teams to deliver integrated commissioning solutions.
- Providing strategic advice and support to senior leaders and contributing to service planning, organisational development, and transformation initiatives.
- Deputising for the Head of Service where required and representing Adult Social Care Commissioning at senior-level meetings and forums.
- Managing programme risks, dependencies, resources, performance measures, and governance arrangements across a range of complex projects.
- Ensuring commissioning activities deliver value for money, improve outcomes, and contribute to sustainable service delivery.
- Monitoring market performance and identifying opportunities to develop innovative, responsive, and high-quality care and support services.
- Leading teams through change and supporting the implementation of new ways of working within a matrix and project-based environment.
Qualifications and Experience
- To be successful in this role you must have;
- Relevant qualification in Commissioning, Project Management, Public Sector Leadership, Health & Social Care, Business Management, or a related field.
- Significant experience leading Adult Social Care commissioning functions within a local authority, health, or public sector environment.
- Proven track record of delivering large-scale commissioning, procurement, transformation, and service redesign programmes.
- Experience leading and managing teams through organisational change and service transformation.
- Strong knowledge of Adult Social Care commissioning, market shaping, procurement processes, and service development.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships across health, social care, provider markets, and partner organisations.
- Excellent programme and project management skills, including governance, risk management, financial oversight, and benefits realisation.
- Experience supporting market sustainability, provider engagement, and the development of innovative care and support services.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, analytical, and influencing skills.
- Ability to work strategically whilst maintaining oversight of operational delivery within a fast-paced environment.
Why Liquid Personnel?
- Free DBS and compliance service
- Twice weekly payroll and ‘Faster Pay’ service, getting you paid more quickly
- Access to exclusive roles that aren’t available from other agencies
- Free access to Liquid’s exclusive social work training and CPD portal
- Your own dedicated consultant with extensive social work knowledge
- Access to a wide selection of social work positions across the UK
- “Refer a Friend” bonus – get £500 for each social worker you refer who we successfully place*
- “Find your own job” bonus – get £250 for bringing your own position to us *
Liquid Personnel is an equal opportunities employer.
Liquid Personnel Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. * Terms and conditions apply to our bonus schemes.
Reasonable Adjustments
If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team.
With this information, we will provide appropriate support to you throughout the process and into your work placement.
We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.
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Commissioning Strategic Lead – Adult Services employer: Liquid Personnel
As a leading company in social services, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values flexibility and work-life balance, particularly for our part-time Kinship Care Supervising Social Worker role in Brighton. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth through ongoing training and development opportunities, while our commitment to making a meaningful impact in the community ensures that every employee feels valued and engaged in their work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commissioning Strategic Lead – Adult Services
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Liquid Personnel.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Liquid Personnel!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Liquid Personnel, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Liquid Personnel or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Commissioning Strategic Lead – Adult Services
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 Liquid Personnel:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Liquid Personnel! 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 Liquid Personnel
✨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.
