Overview
In this role you lead the strategic commissioning of children’s social care and education, delivering high-quality, value-for-money services. You will develop a robust commissioning capability, shape markets, and ensure safe, effective outcomes for children, young people and families. You’ll work across services to create integrated solutions, reduce reliance on costly out-of-area provision, and support financial sustainability. This is part of Swindon’s transformation journey to improve public services and life in the town, with a strong focus on people-centric outcomes and continuous improvement.
Pay / Benefits
- rewards and benefits package
- diverse and exciting environment
- personal development
- flexible work life balance
- hybrid working model (2–3 days on-site)
- inclusive employer
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for commissioning of children’s social care and education services
- Deliver statutory sufficiency duties for children’s services
- Drive measurable impact and lasting improvements in outcomes and value for money
- Develop commissioning capability across Children’s social care and education; embed best practice
- Build a sustainable, diverse local provider market and reduce high-cost/out-of-area provision
- Use demand, cost, market performance, quality data to inform priorities and service design
- Collaborate across children’s social care, housing, health, and adult social care to deliver integrated solutions
- Lead implementation of new structure and operating model for the children’s element of the service
- Contribute to the council’s financial sustainability and efficiency
- Support workforce redesign and respond to ongoing transformation programmes
Key requirements
- Track record of building a high-performing commissioning service
- Experience leading commissioning for children’s social care and education
- Strong ability to shape markets, negotiate with providers and secure value for money
- Strategic thinker with ability to use data to inform decisions
- Collaborative stakeholder management across multiple directorates
- Experience contributing to organizational transformation and new operating models
- collaboration
- strategic leadership
- influencing and negotiation
- market intelligence and demand analysis
- cost/quality benchmarking
- service design and commissioning
Head of Commissioning, Children’s Services in Swindon employer: Swindon Borough Council
Swindon Borough Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to transforming service delivery for the community. With a strong focus on employee growth and a supportive work culture, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of residents while enjoying a range of benefits. Join us in our mission to create a better quality of life for everyone in Swindon, where your contributions are valued and celebrated.
