Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Leadership & Vision Provide strategic direction across all commissioning, quality, contracts, performance and market management activity. Lead the development, delivery and review of the citywide Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy, market position statements and associated business plans. Drive forward transformation programmes that improve service pathways, modernise practice, and strengthen early intervention, prevention, reablement and independence.
Contribute to wider Council and corporate leadership, including collaborative work with Elected Members. Deputise for the Director of Adult Social Care when required. 2. Commissioning & Market Management Lead the full commissioning cycle: needs assessment, service modelling, co-design, procurement, contract negotiation, performance monitoring and review.
Ensure Adult Social Care services meet local needs, are financially sustainable, strengths-based, and aligned to national legislation and policy. Oversee market sufficiency across residential care, home support, community services, specialist provision, prevention, reablement and digital innovation. Build strong relationships with providers, voluntary sector partners and health colleagues to shape a diverse and resilient local care market. Lead large-scale commissioning projects, including digital and capital-related programmes.
1. Quality Assurance, Performance & Governance Drive quality improvement across commissioned and in-house services through robust monitoring, data analysis, audits and partnership reviews. Ensure compliance with the Care Act, CQC assurance, safeguarding responsibilities, procurement law and contractual standards. Lead statutory data returns, intelligence functions and performance frameworks to inform decision-making, scrutiny and service improvement.
Strengthen evidence-based practice, learning from research, sector innovations and regulatory guidance. Promote a culture of openness, continuous learning and high performance. 4. Partnerships & System Leadership Represent Portsmouth City Council within local, regional and national forums (e.g., NHS partners, ADASS, regional commissioning collaboratives).
Work as part of the Executive Leadership Team to foster integrated and collaborative ways of working across the NHS, housing, police, voluntary sector and wider public services. Use the Commissioning Strategy to support system-wide work on prevention, wellbeing, reablement and recovery, ensuring vulnerable adults are supported to live fulfilling, independent lives. 5. Operational Oversight & Workforce Leadership Lead and support commissioning, quality and performance teams, creating a high-expectation, high-support culture.
Ensure the service maintains a skilled, confident and motivated workforce with access to strong professional development. Manage substantial budgets (typically £10£20 million), ensuring effective financial governance, risk management and value for money. Build strong multidisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships to deliver seamless services and minimise unnecessary demand. Ensure commissioning practice meets service standards, legislation and national guidance.