Responsibilities
As the Commissioning Manager for SEND & Alternative Provision you will work positively with all key stakeholders to manage the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of commissioned services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those accessing Alternative Provision, ensuring that these arrangements deliver value for money and improved outcomes for Wigan's children and young people.
You will develop and embed robust quality assurance processes across all aspects of all commissioned SEND and Alternative Provision services to ensure a culture of performance management that drives continuous improvement. You will identify and implement new ways of working in line with best practice and establish credible plans for future commissioning developments. You will ensure that the council is compliant with its statutory duties and work collaboratively with other services and teams across the council and its partner agencies to address the needs of children and young people.
As the Commissioning Manager, you will also focus on supporting families through the Education, Health and Care (EHC) process, writing EHC plans and attending review meetings with families, and you will work closely with a range of key partners and stakeholders to achieve effective multi‑agency working. You will provide support to families, schools, colleges and other educational settings to ensure children and young people are educated appropriately in the right setting to meet their needs.
Qualifications & Skills
Solid working knowledge of SEND and Alternative Provision legislation and statutory guidance, including:
* Children and Families Act 2014
* Education Act 1996
* Keeping Children Safe in Education
* Ofsted inspection frameworks
Strong understanding of the needs of children and young people with SEND and those accessing Alternative Provision, and how commissioned services improve outcomes. Effective skills in designing and embedding quality assurance frameworks, performance management of external providers, using measurable outcomes and service standards, and evaluating services to drive continuous improvement and value for money. Excellent communication, influencing and relationship building skills; confidence to challenge and support improvement; sound professional judgment; and the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and use IT systems effectively.
We will provide you with a supportive working environment and give you the opportunity to learn and develop further within the organisation.
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