Job title: Commissioning Manager
Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House, Leeds - hybrid
The Commissioning and Market Management Service in the Children and Families Directorate is seeking applications for the post of Commissioning Manager (PO4).
You’ll will be part of our Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated Children and Families service and employed by Leeds City Council where we have a culture of excellence and are continually striving to drive up standards.
It’s not a transactional commissioning role, it is a practice based, child focused, transformational commissioning role that delivers outstanding outcomes for children, cost improvement and value for money using innovative approaches and agile responses in a challenging external market.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our and ambitions.
About you
As a Commissioning Manager, you will bring to the role:
1. Excellent leadership qualities and experience
2. Experience in commissioning and/or project management and/or front line working with children and families with transferable skills.
3. Flexibility to lead on all aspects of commissioning, contract management and quality assurance across the Children and Families Directorate.
4. A passion for learning with the ability to challenge and drive change.
5. A restorative mind-set, focussed on improving outcomes for children and young people.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Children and Families Commissioning & Market Management Service. The service has a critical role as a core function in the directorate and with its partners to deliver priorities in the Children and Young People’s Plan and obtain the best possible outcomes for children and families.
The service covers a wide range of different commissioning areas including family support, early help, placements, SEND, regional and national adoption, youth services, learning inclusion and regional commissioning. The team is responsible for commissioning 100+ different contracts worth approximately £20 million per year in addition to over £50 million spend on placements and SEND learning.
We ensure the voice of children and families is at the heart of what we do. We work with partners and young people to help design our services. We engage with internal services and providers to ensure there is a strong market able to deliver our services. We use a range of monitoring and contract management methods to measure performance and outcomes and drive continuous improvement. We work with partners such as the NHS to achieve the best outcomes and make the most effective use of resources, including joint commissioning. We embed safeguarding, equality and quality assurance across our commissioning activity and service delivery. We commission services based on evidence and value for money. We have a bespoke brokerage team.
This is a senior role within the Commissioning & Market Management Service. We are keen to recruit the right person that has the ingredients to develop into an exceptional commissioner. There will be a full induction to develop the person who can demonstrate the right knowledge and aptitude.
We welcome applications from people who have lived or professional experience of SEND.
Regardless of your previous experience the successful candidate will be required to undertake continuous professional development. You will gain or strengthen best practice knowledge of various aspects of children’s service delivery, technical commissioning skills including commercial acumen and value for money techniques. As a core service in Children and Families, you will be integral to decision taking.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
6. a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
7. membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
8. flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
9. a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
10. a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states thatcandidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose:
Working as part of the Commissioning Service, across a number of project areas you will manage effective delivery of commissioning and contract management outcomes, modelling values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country, and our partnership aspiration to be a Child Friendly City.
Through commissioning and contract management processes you will support and manage colleagues to deliver our collective responsibility to keep all children safe. Using the principles of project management, you will lead and undertake aspects of the commissioning programme including:
11. Leading on and contributing to the Strategic Review of services
12. Manage across a numbers of project areas, contracts and lead colleagues in the management of complex services.
13. Leading, managing and co-ordinating projects
14. Leading and contributing to the procurement of services
15. Using appropriate tools and practice to identify and quantify need.
16. Undertaking data analysis of service performance and completion of reports which can influence decision making
17. Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
18. Lead project teams to design and develop services to improve children’s outcomes and meet need whilst ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
19. Managing and supporting teams to design and implement suitable mechanisms to measure impact and co-ordinate the evaluation of contracts and the practical application of lessons learned
20. Supporting the active involvement of children and young people and families in how Children and Families services are commissioned and delivered and how they contribute to the ambitions of the Council as set out in the City Plan for Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice and their views are heard
21. Developing and maintaining knowledge of key work programmes and service area priorities
22. Developing and maintaining systems and processes such as Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Information Governance, Performance and Risk Assessments across the team.
Special Conditions this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Responsibilities:
23. Identify, develop and utilise project management techniques to support the strategic review of services, commissioning of new services and the re-commissioning/decommissioning of existing services as required. This will involve the complete commissioning cycle from needs assessment to delivery and review.
24. To lead and co-ordinate joint working within the directorate, across the council and with external partners as appropriate
25. To coordinate and manage contracts and portfolio of services including effective relationship management with partners, value for money and achievement of quality standards and efficiencies where required.
26. To lead, manage and oversee the development of processes and practices that will deliver and support key developments in the commissioning function.
27. To provide expertise and guidance on the commissioning process to strategic leads in the Children’s Services Directorate
28. Manage and support others to regular monitoring meetings associated with the portfolio of contracts and ensure that delivery is achieving expected targets and outcomes.
29. To develop impact indicators for services and agree performance management approaches through close working with the Contract Management Service.
30. To lead and manage project groups and meetings to include key stakeholders in any commissioning outcome
31. To actively facilitate children and young people’s voice in all aspects of commissioning and to contribute to the sustaining of a culture that consistently meets the needs of, and listens to, children, families and stakeholders.
32. To adopt a restorative approach in your interactions with colleagues, providers, service users and stakeholders and to provide high support and high challenge to providers as part of driving continuous improvement
33. To lead on the preparation and presentation of complex information in a variety of formats to a range of audiences including preparation of reports and briefings to support effective decision making at a strategic and political level within the Council.
34. To manage and support others to undertake effective evaluation of projects and contracts including data collection; collation and scrutiny of performance management information; benchmarking; report writing; and the implementation of practical outcomes and lessons learned.
35. Work effectively with the Corporate Procurement Team to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement procedures and to ensure the commissioning team to undertake its responsibilities in relation to the procurement of commissioned services.
36. To utilise a working knowledge of relevant Council, Directorate and Partnership plans and priorities and understand the implications for service areas
37. To prepare and deliver reports, briefings, guidance and support to senior officers, elected members and staff across the council in relation to one or more service areas
38. To lead a team and represent Commissioning Lead / Manager on specified work areas where required.
39. To support the development of key policy and strategy relating to the commissioning of services
40. To ensure due regard is taken of equality and diversity when designing, delivering or reviewing policies, strategies, services and human resources and ensure that any mitigating actions are delivered.
41. To lead on ensuring compliance with governance and procedural requirements relating to the work of the team. This may include in relation to commissioning, contract management, procurement and financial management.
42. To provide line management and supervision within the service area and for Commissioning Officers
43. To maximise resources for the City including supporting partnerships and service area bids for resources
44. To ensure commissioning activity takes place within available budgets, efficiency targets are met and services provide value for money.
Using a restorative approach, make a positive contribution to the development of working practices within the commissioning and market management team.
45. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
46. Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
47. Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
48. To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
49. Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
50. Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
51. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
52. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
53. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
54. The ability to analyse information for meaning, quality and implication and develop reports and recommendations on the basis of this information
55. Ability to develop up to date knowledge in an identified commissioning project area.
56. Research skills to identify local, regional and national best practice and its utility in Leeds
57. The ability to analyse performance information of existing services for impact on outcomes and cost
58. Strong communication skills with the ability form positive relationships
59. Ability to identify, form and maintain positive working relationships, including a range of stakeholders and including external businesses
60. To challenge constructively colleagues in the local authority and in services for efficiency and effectiveness in support of the commissioning process
61. To develop constructive working relationships with senior managers and leaders that support their engagement in the commissioning process
62. Ability to interpret information on service failures and create reflective learning for oneself and colleagues
63. ICT skills suitable to collate and present statistical and financial information and associated reports and presentations
64. The ability to manage a range of issues concurrently; dividing and allocating own time to ensure objectives are met
65. Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex managerial problems
66. Ability to deal with conflict effectively
67. To ability to provide appropriate briefings both written and verbal to a range of audiences including partners, Elected Members and senior managers
68. Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge Required
69. Knowledge of a range of evaluation tools to analyse impact including equality impact
70. Knowledge of the stages of the commissioning cycle including needs assessment, service development, implementation and review.
71. Knowledge of a range of commissioning approaches and how they may be applied to achieve best outcomes.
72. Knowledge of suitable project management tools including risk management approaches to ensure projects are delivered successfully
73. Knowledge of the main implications of legislation and governance relevant to a local authority commissioning service across a range of financial values from small to large.
74. Knowledge of key national policy implications for the commissioning of services in Leeds.
75. Knowledge of the market considerations for the delivery of Children’s Services in a local authority area.
76. Knowledge of current local and national issues impacting upon a range of children’s services
Experience Required
77. Management/supervisory experience across children’s services with specific responsibility for implementing policy via service delivery and outcomes.
78. Experience of working in a multi-agency environment and forging productive working relationships with senior officers, partners and business organisations
79. Experience of incorporating the views of children and young people in aspects of service design and commissioning processes
80. Experience of managing, supporting and developing individuals and teams and promoting a ‘can do’ attitude within a context of continuous improvement and improved outcomes for children and young people
81. Experience of effective staff management and financial accountability within recognised rules and procedures and within a context of delivering successful outcomes for service users
82. Experience of health & safety and risk management and safeguarding practices (including CSE) to ensure the well being and safety of staff and service users.
83. Experience of leading and managing projects, supporting an end to end commissioning process
84. Experience of working in a project-led environment and using appropriate project techniques
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
85. Committed to continuous improvement.
86. Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
87. To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
88. Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
89. Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
90. The ability to develop cost benefit analyses which support effective decision making
91. Ability to understand and develop the relevant market of providers to ensure procurement programmes reach a successful conclusion
Knowledge Required
92. Knowledge and familiarity of current working practices of key partners to support commissioning activity. (education, early years, youth work, family support, complex needs, youth offending, social work, public health, children’s transport, residential and housing support services)
93. Understanding/experience of a range of improvement methodologies to drive service improvement
Experience Required
94. Experience of delivering creative and innovative solutions in children services
95. Experience of leading service improvement activity to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people
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