Commissioning Officer

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Senior Commissioning Officer to lead our Brokerage and Negotiation Team at a time of significant challenge and opportunity within Children's Services. This role sits at the heart of our commissioning function and plays a critical part in delivering some of Leicestershire's key strategic priorities, including reducing placement costs through effective negotiation, supporting step-down opportunities, reducing the use of unregistered placements, improving sufficiency, and ensuring children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. About the Role You will lead a team responsible for securing placements and services, negotiating with providers, challenging costs, analysing market trends and ensuring referrals are of the highest quality to maximise opportunities for successful matching. You will provide leadership and direction to a busy Brokerage and Negotiation Team, ensuring:

• High-quality brokerage activity that delivers the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
• Robust negotiation of placement and service costs
• Effective use of care cost tools to support evidence-based commissioning decisions and cost avoidance.
• Strong business processes that provide assurance and support the wider commissioning cycle.
• Timely and effective placement and service searches.
• High-quality referrals that accurately articulate children's needs and maximise placement opportunities.
• Meaningful management information that supports strategic decision-making.
You will also play a key role in supporting the service's wider commissioning objectives, ensuring brokerage activity contributes to market development, sufficiency planning and financial sustainability.


• Degree in relevant subject Or Demonstrable experience identified below.
• Experience of commissioning, contracting or providing social care services to children and young people in a statutory, private or voluntary organisation. and working in a senior position and managing/coaching staff.
• Experience of developing positive relationships and managing conflict.
• Experience of using monitoring and evaluation to inform planning, including data systems to track performance.
• Experience of business process design, process testing, and the documentation of work instructions.
• Knowledge of relevant national legislation and regulation requirements including safeguarding policies, housing law and procedures and contract procedure rules.
• Ability to analyse information and write clear well-presented reports with recommendations and support the drafting of service specifications or system development.
In addition, we also expect you to share and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a . Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

About Leicestershire County Council At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose. For further information on what it's like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following