Contracts and Commissioning Specialist

The purpose of this role is to support the strategic programmes of commissioning activities across Children's Social Care, Education and Public Health - driving innovation to deliver better outcomes and financial efficiencies which in turn deliver the Council's key corporate and partnership priorities - a council that works for everyone, to benefit the people of Northumberland. In this role you will, develop relationships with providers within the children's social care, education and public health arena, with the purpose of working with them to achieve positive outcomes for looked after children in Northumberland and the wider population. This will include understanding the market, managing the market and building productive and positive relationships to achieve the required outcomes. Along with, commissioning relevant service provision for individual young people or on population based. There will also be the requirement to analyse data, plan and monitor commissioned service and negotiate packages, to ensure statutory compliance and value for money. The Service consists of the Head of Strategic Commissioning and Contracting, for Children's Social Care, Education and Public Health, a Senior Manager, Contracts and Commissioning, four Contracts and Commissioning Specialists (including this post) and an Assistant Contracts and Commissioning Officer. We are looking for someone who has recent and significant experience in children's social care, or education and public health commissioning including all aspects of the commissioning cycle, which includes assessing needs, planning and prioritising, purchasing and monitoring services, to get the best outcomes for service users. Be commercially aware and able to understand the relationship between cost, quality, customer care and corporate performance assessments. To negotiate directly with providers the costs of support for children and young people requiring residential care, and/or education within the range of contractual arrangements available.

• Level 6 or above qualification or senior professional experience.
• be able to demonstrate ongoing development in specialist or emerging areas relevant to the service or role.
• Recent and significant experience in children's social care, or education and public health commissioning including all aspects of the commissioning cycle, to achieve the best outcomes for service users and have substantial knowledge and understanding of Local Government and the range of services involved in supporting children, young people and their families.
• The monitoring aspect of the role is significant and will include visiting the sites of external providers as well as undertaking Regulation 44 visits for the Council's internally operated children's homes. It follows that the postholder will be required to work with internal and external service provider on both a stand-alone or collaborative basis. There will be a need for travel around the country to undertake the monitoring, with the potential for occasional overnight stays.
• A valid UK driving licence is therefore essential.
• An enhanced DBS check will be required for this post.
  
  Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is 'Land of Great Opportunities', for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.
  
  This is a full-time position, fixed term for 18 months. NCC Band 8 salary £39,862 - £44,075.
The post will be hybrid between home-working, with a hot-desk base at County Hall, Morpeth. There will be a need for travel around the country to undertake the monitoring, with the potential for occasional overnight stays., We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:
• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
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