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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to improve children's services through innovative commissioning and collaboration.
- Company: Tameside Council, dedicated to making a positive impact on families and children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, hybrid working, and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Motivated individuals with strong interpersonal skills and experience in project management.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to innovation and improvement in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 33900 - 41500 £ per year.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade H. Scale 29 - £39,862 to Scale 31 - £41,771
Hours Per Week: 36 hours
Base Location: Tameside One
Assessment Date: 6th January 2026
To apply for this role please upload your CV together with a supporting statement that provides evidence of how you meet the essential requirements of the person specification. Please also include details of your education and training and employment history and any reference to your qualifications that are specified on the person specification within your CV/supporting statement.
The Role
We are looking for two new Commissioning Officers to work in Children’s Commissioning (StartWell). This is an exciting opportunity to join the Commissioning Team in Tameside Children’s Services. The roles offer opportunities for personal and professional development and a chance for someone to bring their own skills, knowledge and experiences to contribute to service innovation and improvement within a fast-moving, demanding and ever-changing environment.
You will be responsible for delivering the commissioning agenda across Children’s Services including Early Help, SEND, and Social Care, through a place-based approach working with partners to achieve improved outcomes for children and young people. You will support the development of our annual commissioning intentions and will have an exciting and varied agenda of work. Delivering all aspects of the commissioning cycle you will have coproduction central to your working practice. You will have the opportunity to shape the services our children and families receive in Tameside and make a lasting impact.
Working to review existing commissions and new opportunities, you will develop commissioning intentions, work with procurement, and lead the engagement with providers to ensure they are delivering for Tameside’s children and families. You will assist in the planning, co-production, development, co-ordination, and delivery of an ongoing programme of commissioning projects, providing effective challenge, support and project management across the directorates and partners to ensure that the improvement and integration strategies are effectively implemented to achieve significant and lasting change.
About You
We are looking for highly motivated, energetic people with great interpersonal skills and the capacity to forge excellent relationships and effective multi-agency working. You will be passionate and have the ability to work strategically on intelligence led and high-quality commissioning. You will have the ability to deliver multiple projects within timescales while achieving required outcomes. You will be driven to ensure the best for our children and young people and will be committed to involving them in coproduction along with partners to enable a fully comprehensive approach to commissioning. You will have excellent analytical skills and lateral thinking to develop creative and innovative solutions. You will be positive about change and have experience of supporting innovation and culture change, to drive improvements across Children’s Services. You will have experience of overcoming barriers to deliver successful outcomes. You must be capable of working on your own initiative to help drive and enable improved outcomes for our children. The post is a minimum two-three days office based and the remainder hybrid working.
About Us
Message from Jill Colbert, Director of Children’s Services: “I joined the council at the beginning of 2025 and was instantly charmed by the warmth, openness, and energy of colleagues. I came to Tameside for one reason; because I know we can do fantastic things for our families here. We’re a children’s service on a significant improvement journey. We know what needs to be different for our children and families and we’re ambitious to deliver that change. We have a growing range of specialist services for children, where you can test and grow your skills and practice. We have a Social Work Academy that is led by people who bring passion to learning and who know that the DCS’ of the future are right in front of them. We are working on our progression pathways so that staying in Tameside is rewarded and recognised. We have investment in innovation and improvement from the council so that we can grow services and support for families that we can sustain, from family hubs through to complex safeguarding. I am so certain that we can build a proud, inclusive and safe climate for great practice to flourish in Tameside. I’d love you to join me on the journey here at Team Tameside.”
At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities. We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do. Our employees’ skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be.
Please note, previous applicants need not apply. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship. We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager Sally Atkinson on 0161 342 3649 or sally.atkinson@tameside.gov.uk
Senior Commissioning Officer - Start Well employer: Tameside Council
Contact Detail:
Tameside Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commissioning Officer - Start Well
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field of children's services, especially those who work in commissioning. Attend local events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by researching Tameside’s current initiatives in children’s services. Show us you’re not just passionate but also informed about the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Tailor your responses to highlight how your skills can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your experience with co-production and multi-agency working, as these are key aspects of the role. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commissioning Officer - Start Well
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior Commissioning Officer. Highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially in commissioning and working with children’s services.
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to provide clear evidence of how you meet the essential requirements outlined in the person specification. Be specific and give examples from your past experiences.
Showcase Your Education and Training: Don’t forget to include details of your education and training in your CV. Mention any qualifications that are relevant to the role, as this will help us see how well-prepared you are for the position.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered promptly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tameside Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the commissioning agenda, especially in relation to Children’s Services. Brush up on Early Help, SEND, and Social Care, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with these areas.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for improving outcomes for children and young people. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to service innovation or culture change in previous roles to show you're driven and committed.
✨Engage with Co-production
Since co-production is central to the role, come prepared with ideas on how to involve children and families in the commissioning process. Think about past experiences where you successfully engaged stakeholders and how that could apply here.
✨Be a Team Player
Highlight your interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with multi-agency teams. Prepare examples of how you've built relationships and worked effectively with partners to achieve common goals.
