Apprentice Commissioning and Contracts Support Officer in Ipswich

Suffolk County Council Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX - Hybrid

Salary: £25,185 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available

Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for 21 months

When you join the Care Market Hub as an Apprentice Commissioning and Contract Support Officer, we will support your development from the start. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

This role sits within the Care Market Hub, a team that supports the work of the Commissioning and Contract Management Service. From setting up new care providers on our systems to supporting meetings and responding to queries from providers, social workers and contract managers, you will play a key role in keeping services running smoothly. You will work closely with a range of teams across Adult Social Care, giving you a great opportunity to build your knowledge and understanding of this area. Your day‑to‑day work will focus on keeping information accurate, organised and up to date, ensuring it is shared effectively with colleagues.

Your responsibilities include:

• Manage and maintain information systems to support the Contract Management team
• Monitor shared inboxes and work queues, ensuring queries are handled promptly
• Respond to emails, helping to resolve issues, answer questions and signpost where needed
• Support the team by following processes and identifying opportunities to improve how we work

A typical day is varied, with a strong focus on organisation, communication and attention to detail. The team works in the office at least two days a week (usually Mondays, plus alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays), with flexibility to work from home on other days.

Your apprenticeship

Level 3 in Business Administration

21 Months

We welcome apprenticeship applications from all ages and backgrounds. There is no upper age limit – it’s never too late to start developing new skills. The apprenticeship you are applying for must build on your qualifications. If you have experience in this field, the apprenticeship must be at a higher level.

You will need:

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• A positive, proactive attitude and a willingness to find solutions
• Confidence communicating by email and telephone
• The ability to follow processes while also suggesting improvements
• Good IT skills, including experience using Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel

The team

The Care Market Hub is a small, supportive team made up of a manager and two Commissioning and Contract Officers. Despite its size, the team has a significant impact and works with a wide range of colleagues across Adult Social Care and the wider care market. The team is part of the Strategic Commissioning and Contract Management Service.

Empowering Everyone

We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently under‑represented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

Employee benefits

• Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• Performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase
• Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• A variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• Diverse and active staff networks
• Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Legal and Safety Statements

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

Closing date 11.30pm, 30 June 2026