Hybrid Commissioning & Contracts Manager for Children in Oldbury

Sandwell Children’s Trust are recruiting for a Commissioning & Contracts Management Officer. Here at Sandwell Children's Trust we're on the up! Having been rated 'Good' by Ofsted in our recent ILACS Inspection, we are looking to build on this success and are recruiting to a number of key roles in our Commissioning & Home Finding Teams. If you can bring relevant experience and knowledge and an innovative, commercially aware and above all a child-centred approach, we want to hear from you.

Our ‘Sandwell Deal’ brings together our offering that makes Sandwell Children’s Trust a great place to work; it also sets out our expectations of you as a member of staff. Generous annual leave of up to 31 days, plus 5 additional days for long service recognition. Your birthday off paid in addition to annual leave entitlement and 8 Bank Holidays, plus a concessionary day at Christmas. You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme with employer contributions of 21.6%. We recognise individual loyalty with service awards from 2, 5, 10 and every 5 years onwards. Flexible working patterns that suit you and all of our roles have well-defined career progression. We provide competitive expenses for both mileage (55p per mile) and subsistence, plus access to a comprehensive employee benefits scheme.

The Commissioning Team at Sandwell Children's Trust leads on the development of services and support for the children we support, bringing together both internal and external services to ensure we provide the best possible support for children & families from the Brough, and best value from the resources we have to meet their needs.

Role Summary

This role, reporting to the Team Manager for Commissioning, will lead the commissioning of an agreed portfolio of work including Youth Justice support, and the development of new and innovative solutions to help the Trust meet its sufficiency duty to provide stable, loving homes for the children we support. They will ensure quality, value for money, and outcome focused support is available to meet the needs of the children & families we support is achieved at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

• To lead on the development and monitoring the implementation of commissioning and activity in relation to stable, loving homes for children, Youth Justice support services and wider preventative support services, ensuring they link to the Trust’s Plans, its plans for Families First, the Sufficiency Strategy, the priorities of the Children’s Safeguarding partnership and Youth Justice Board, national and regional policy and maximizing best value for money.
• Lead the development of new services and support for Children with Disabilities, provisions for Emergency Beds, PACE Beds, and homes within or near to Sandwell for Children with Complex Needs.

Required Skills & Experience

• Educated to a minimum of a Level 4 or Degree qualification or equivalent.
• At least 3 years’ experience of undertaking commissioning, service development and procurement activities.
• At least 2 years’ experience of developing and coproducing service specifications for new and redesigned services with key stakeholders.
• At least 2 years’ experience of using standing orders and financial regulations within a statutory organisation.
• At least 2 years’ experience of tendering and contract/performance management.
• Substantial experience of commissioning services in a public sector context.
• Ability to develop detailed options appraisals and cost/benefit methodology.
• Experience of whole-cycle commissioning and service redesign activities and meaningful coproduction throughout all associated activity.
• Knowledge of local authority procurement, framework and commissioning services, especially in relation to children home frameworks.

If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Martyn Baggaley, Head of Commissioning & Provider Services via email martyn_baggaley@sandwellchildrenstrust.org. Interviews to be held on Thursday 7th May.

By joining our team, you will be making a real difference in the lives of children and families. We are dedicated to driving meaningful change and ensuring the best outcomes for those we serve. With the work that we have done so far and with the ambitions we have for the future, it’s a really exciting time to join Sandwell Children’s Trust and to become part of our Family.

Sandwell Children's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people.

If you require further information on the role or working for us please email recruitment_childrenstrust@sandwell.gov.uk and a member of our Recruitment Team will be happy to give you a call.