Placement and Contract Commissioning Officer

We are seeking experienced and motivated Senior Placement and Commissioning Officers to join our Young People's Commissioning Team. This is a varied and rewarding role that combines operational oversight with strategic commissioning responsibilities. You will provide day to day oversight of the home finding function, support placement stability and prioritise transition planning, and work alongside partners to improve safety and maximise outcomes for young people. As a senior member of the team, you will lead on quality assurance across commissioned services, undertaking provider visits, evaluating service quality and producing reports that drive improvement. You will be confident using and presenting data, quality assurance findings and market intelligence to support effective decision making and shape strategic service development.

Strong IT and data collation skills, report writing and the ability to present complex information/data in a clear and meaningful way are essential. You'll work closely with providers and partners to improve service quality, share learning and promote best practice. You'll also plan and host engagement events, support responses to safeguarding concerns and crisis situations, and help drive continuous improvement across commissioned services. We're looking for confident, highly motivated individuals who can balance competing priorities, make sound decisions, and work confidently and autonomously, while building effective relationships. You will be equally comfortable working strategically to shape future service delivery and operationally to respond to emerging issues and ensure high quality outcomes for children and young people. Apply today and you'll be joining a supportive and ambitious team with a strong commitment to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement! Experience and Skills Some of the key skills and experiences required are:

• Excellent literacy and numeracy skills to understand the referral process, complex tender documents, contracts and to check statistical financial information and other documents.
• Ability to present information clearly, and in ways that promote understanding. Including the ability to persuade and successfully convince others of the need to take a specific course of action.
• Good analytical skills to interpret complex tender/financial information, with the ability to organise, plan and meet set targets.
• Good communication and negotiation skills to work with partners including the ability to negotiate solutions across wide areas of the business to achieve best outcomes and value for money.
• Solution focussed with the ability to analyse complex situations and provide forward thinking strategies and solutions that consider a variety of possible solutions and balance risks/resources and desired outcomes
• Degree or equivalent qualification or significant experience in brokerage / contract management, demonstrating that level of applied knowledge in researching, analysing, and evaluating information.
• Significant experience in brokerage / procurement or contract management demonstrated by monitoring and /or managing complex contracts effectively to ensure business need.
• Experience of providing mentoring / coaching / on the job training to colleagues to maximise their specific capabilities and to meet objectives.
  
  The Young People's Commissioning Team works to ensure children we care for and care leavers have access to safe, suitable, and high-quality accommodation and support. Our team's key focus is to ensure young people have access to high-quality support in the right home, at the right time, for the right length of time.
  
  As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.