Senior Commissioning Officer – Children’s Services
📍 Location: Floor 2, BCP Civic Centre, Bournemouth, BH2 6DY
💷 Pay: £250 per day
🕒 Hours: Full-Time – 37 hours per week
📅 Schedule: Monday to Friday
📆 Contract: 3 Months (Initial)
🚀 Start: Immediate
🌟 Drive Change. Shape the Future for Children and Young People.
BCP Council is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Commissioning Officer to help lead the transformation of services that support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community.
This is a pivotal role within the Children’s Commissioning Team, with a focus on the Short Breaks service for children with SEND, and the Advocacy and Independent Visiting offer for children in care.
You'll play a strategic, high-impact role in redesigning services that empower families, deliver better outcomes, and offer outstanding value for money.
🔍 Your Key Responsibilities
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🧩 Lead the redevelopment and full re-tendering of the Short Breaks provision.
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📢 Overhaul the Advocacy and Independent Visiting services at pace, ensuring young people’s voices are central.
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🧠 Use needs assessments and management information to drive commissioning decisions.
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📊 Provide high-level updates and progress reports to senior leadership and board-level forums.
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🤝 Work co-productively with stakeholders, partners, children, and families to develop sustainable, inclusive services.
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📈 Ensure efficiency, innovation, and measurable outcomes in all commissioning activity.
🧠 What You’ll Bring
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In-depth knowledge of national frameworks and priorities around children’s services, particularly SEND and looked-after children.
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Proven experience in:
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Designing and delivering Short Breaks services
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Leading and managing commissioning and procurement exercises
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Service transformation, system redesign, and options appraisal
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Exceptional project management and financial oversight skills.
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Strong understanding of co-production and stakeholder engagement techniques.
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Confidence to operate at a senior strategic level, influencing internal and external decision-makers.
🤝 Why Work With Us?
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💡 Be part of a team shaping essential services for children and young people across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole.
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🌐 Flexible, hybrid working model – combine remote work with access to our Civic Centre office.
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🧭 Lead projects that are person-centred, outcomes-focused, and future-ready.
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💬 A supportive, collaborative culture where your expertise will be valued and your impact recognised.
✅ About the Team
BCP Council’s Children’s Commissioning Team is responsible for sourcing, shaping, and improving services that support the wellbeing and development of children and families across the region.
We work with ambition, compassion, and accountability — and we’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to delivering the best for children and young people.
If you're ready to lead meaningful change, deliver complex projects, and influence the future of children’s services, we want to hear from you