Commissioning Officer in Guildford

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Commissioning Officer to join our Business Development and Commissioning Team. This role will require the successful candidate to provide operational and administrative support across commissioning, contracting and funding activity, helping to ensure that placement and service funding arrangements are established, documented and maintained accurately and efficiently.

Working closely with the Senior Commissioning Manager, Head of Business Development & Commissioning and wider Business Development & Commissioning Team, the postholder will coordinate contractual documentation, maintain accurate commissioning and placement information across relevant systems, support funding applications and proactively follow up outstanding agreements, funding decisions and commissioner actions.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide general operational support to the Referral Manager and Placement Officer throughout the referral and assessment process, helping to ensure referrals are progressed efficiently from initial enquiry through assessment and towards an appropriate service or placement.
• Help minimise financial and contractual risk, improve the timeliness of funding arrangements and support achievement of organisational income, activity and occupancy objectives.
• Coordinate the preparation, administration and completion of contractual documentation for placements and commissioned services, ensuring agreements, schedules and associated paperwork are accurate and progressed in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date commissioning, contract, placement and funding records across relevant systems and trackers, ensuring information is complete, accessible and supports effective financial and operational management, including taking and circulating accurate minutes and actions from relevant commissioning meetings.
• Monitor and follow up outstanding contractual and commissioning actions, including unsigned agreements and commissioner responses, escalating delays, risks or non-standard/complex matters to the Senior Commissioning Manager or Head of Business Development & Commissioning.
• Support the Senior Commissioning Manager with funding applications and requests to NHS commissioners, local authorities and other funding bodies, including preparing standard applications and coordinating supporting information.
• Maintain oversight of outstanding funding applications and decisions, proactively liaising with commissioners on routine queries and ensuring actions and outcomes are accurately recorded.
• Support routine commissioning activity including transitions between services, annual fee uplifts and other funding changes, escalating complex negotiations, disputes or funding concerns as appropriate.
• Identify missing information, discrepancies or potential financial risks and escalate these appropriately, supporting reconciliation and resolution with Finance.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with commissioners, local authorities, NHS organisations and other funding bodies, providing clear and professional communication on routine commissioning matters.
• Build strong internal relationships with clinical, operational and finance colleagues to support effective coordination of commissioning, funding and referral activity, through timely communication, proactive follow up and effective cross organisational working.
• Identify opportunities to improve commissioning, contracting, funding and referral processes, helping to make systems and ways of working more efficient and effective.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of templates, guidance, trackers and processes that support consistent commissioning and funding activity.
• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Professional Standards:

• Undertake all mandatory training in line with The Children's Trust policy.
• Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with policy changes as they occur.
• Ensure strict confidentiality at all times, only releasing information to those acting in an official capacity and with appropriate authority.
• Maintain up to date knowledge and expertise in the use of relevant computerised equipment and applications.
• Prepare appropriately for Performance and Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets, identifying opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Children's Trust.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.

Health and Safety:

• Adhere to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles, and regulations to perform your role and comply with The Children's Trust policies and procedures.
• Promote the health and safety of others.
• Use the incident reporting and risk assessment system (Vantage), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience:

• Maintain a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognise own limitations, develop realistic goals, and use support network resources when or if necessary.
• Treat challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remain organised and focused when under pressure.
• Respond appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivate self and others.

Person Specification:

• Personal Qualities: Commitment to the vision and values of The Children's Trust. Flexible and can-do attitude to competing commitments in workload. Highly motivated and reliable. Ability to cope working in a demanding environment. Commitment to maintaining personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of colleagues.
• Experience: Experience of working in an administrative, coordination, or operational support role. Experience of managing and maintaining accurate records, databases, or electronic systems. Experience of coordinating documentation, agreements, applications, or other formal processes. Experience of working with multiple stakeholders and following up on actions.
• Desirable: Experience of working within health or social care environments such as ICB or local authority. Experience of commissioning, contracting, funding, or placement administration. Experience of supporting referrals, assessment, or service coordination.
• Skills & Abilities: Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. High level of accuracy and attention to detail, particularly when working with contractual, funding, and financial information. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate confidently and professionally with a range of stakeholders. Ability to proactively follow up actions and outstanding information to ensure work progresses. Good IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and databases or other electronic systems. Ability to maintain clear, accurate and confidential records. Ability to take accurate minutes, identify actions and ensure these are appropriately recorded and followed up.
• Qualifications: Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, including English & Maths or equivalent work experience.
• Desirable: Relevant administrative, business, commissioning, health or social care qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of NHS, local authority or education commissioning and funding arrangements. Understanding of referral and assessment processes within health, social care, education, or rehabilitation services.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.