Commissioning Policy & Planning Officer

Overview

In this temporary, full-time role you will lead the commissioning of high-quality, outcome-focused children’s social care services, ensuring value for money and financial sustainability. You will shape the independent accommodation and provider markets, aligning developments with local sufficiency priorities. The role involves analysing market intelligence, developing business cases, and delivering procurement with oversight to senior leaders. Your work directly supports better outcomes for children, young people and families in a changing reform environment. This is an opportunity to drive innovative commissioning in a collaborative council setting.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• generous annual leave (27 days, rising to 32 after five years)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• flexible working arrangements including hybrid working

Responsibilities

• Lead on commissioning of Independent Fostering Agencies, Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation
• Develop provider markets to address sufficiency gaps locally and regionally
• Analyse market intelligence and match provision to local care needs
• Develop option appraisals and business cases for procurement
• Lead procurement exercises and monitor progress with senior leadership
• Collaborate with Strategic Commissioning Manager to report outcomes

Key requirements

• Degree or recognised professional qualification in social care, health, housing, social policy, research, management, education, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Understanding of commissioning and placement brokerage processes
• Substantial experience in a relevant area including policy or project work
• Experience and knowledge of multi-agency working within social care, health or housing
• Evidence of successful developments in the sphere of work

• stakeholder engagement
• cross-functional collaboration
• problem-solving
• commissioning
• market analysis
• option appraisal

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