ABOUT THE ROLE
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Children and Families Commissioning & Market Management Service. This specific role sits within the Children Looked After Commissioning Team.
The role is critical to support all aspects of placement finding for young people in Leeds, you will:
- Commission placements and services that deliver good outcomes for children and families, ensuring placements are best value, quality and compliant.
- Work with providers and stakeholders to deliver good quality placements, through contract monitoring and quality assurance visits.
- Be part of developing a flexible range of responsive provision for our children and young people that provides the right support at the right time
- Work to build stronger commissioning based relationships, support the work to manage the market and address escalating cost.
The role is temporary to cover Maternity Leave. If you are currently a Leeds City Council employee and would like to apply for the role as a secondment, please speak to your line manager.
THIS ROLE IS BASED IN THE UK. HOME OFFICE GUIDANCE STATES THAT CANDIDATES MUST EVIDENCE THEIR RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK PRIOR TO COMMENCING EMPLOYMENT, EITHER AS A UK OR IRISH CITIZEN, UNDER THE EU SETTLEMENT SCHEME OR HAVING SECURED ANY OTHER RELEVANT WORK VISA.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
JOB PURPOSE:
Working as part of the Commissioning Service you will assist in effective delivery of commissioning and contract management outcomes, modelling values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country, and our partnership aspiration to be a Child Friendly City.
Through commissioning and contract management processes you will support colleagues to deliver our collective responsibility to keep all children safe. Using the principles of project management you will undertake aspects of the commissioning programme including:
- Contributing to the Strategic Review of services
- Managing a portfolio of contracts and support colleagues in the management of complex services.
- Co-ordinating projects within the Commissioning Manager’s portfolio
- Contributing to the procurement of services
- Using appropriate tools and practice to identify and quantify need.
- Undertaking data analysis of service performance and completion of reports which can influence decision making
- Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
- Designing and developing services to improve children’s outcomes and meet need whilst ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
- Designing and implementing suitable mechanisms to measure impact and co-ordinate the evaluation of contracts and the practical application of lessons learned
- Supporting the active involvement of children and young people and families in how Children and Families services are commissioned and delivered and how they contribute to the ambitions of the Council as set out in the City Plan for Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice and their views are heard
- Developing and maintaining knowledge of key work programmes and service area priorities
- Developing and maintaining systems and processes such as Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Information Governance, Performance and Risk Assessments across the team.
IF REQUIRES A DBS CHECK - Special Conditions this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Use of project management techniques to support the strategic review of services, commissioning of new services and the re-commissioning/decommissioning of existing services as required
- To co-ordinate joint working within the directorate, across the council and with external partners as appropriate
- To be responsible for the contract management of a portfolio of services including effective relationship management with partners, value for money and achievement of quality standards and efficiencies where required.
- To contribute to and oversee the development of processes and practices that will deliver and support key developments in the commissioning function.
- To develop a working knowledge and understanding of contracted services to inform commissioning
- Lead regular monitoring meetings associated with the portfolio of contracts and ensure that delivery is achieving expected targets and outcomes.
- To develop and manage project meetings to include key stakeholders in any commissioning outcome
- To actively facilitate children and young people’s voice in all aspects of commissioning and to contribute to the sustaining of a culture that consistently meets the needs of, and listens to, children, families and stakeholders.
- To adopt a restorative approach in your interactions with colleagues, providers, service users and stakeholders and to provide high support and high challenge to providers as part of driving continuous improvement
- To contribute to the preparation and presentation of complex information in a variety of formats to a range of audiences including preparation of reports and briefings to support effective decision making at a strategic and political level within the Council.
- To undertake effective evaluation of projects and contracts including data collection; collation and scrutiny of performance management information; benchmarking; report writing; and the implementation of practical outcomes and lessons learned.
- Work effectively with the Corporate Procurement Team to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement procedures and to support the commissioning team to undertake its responsibilities in relation to the procurement of commissioned services.
- To develop a working knowledge of relevant Council, Directorate and Partnership plans and priorities and understand the implications for service areas
- To support colleagues in preparing and providing briefings, guidance and support to senior officers, elected members and staff across the council in relation to one or more service areas
- To work on behalf of the team or represent PO4 Commissioning Manager on specified work areas where required.
- To support the development of key policy and strategy relating to the commissioning of services
- To ensure due regard is taken of equality and diversity when designing, delivering or reviewing policies, strategies, services and human resources and ensure that any mitigating actions are delivered.
- To assist in ensuring compliance with governance and procedural requirements relating to the work of the team. This may include in relation to commissioning, contract management, procurement and financial management.
- To provide effective line management and supervision (as required) within the service area
- To maximise resources for the City including supporting partnerships and service area bids for resources
- To ensure commissioning activity takes place within available budgets, efficiency targets are met and services provide value for money.
- Using a restorative approach, make a positive contribution to the development of working practices within the commissioning and market management team.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES BELOW ARE GENERIC THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF LCC EMPLOYEES
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
As a Commissioning Officer, you will bring to the role:
- Experience in commissioning and/or project management and/or front line working with children and families with transferable skills.
- Flexibility to contribute to all aspects of commissioning, contract management and quality assurance across the Children and Families Directorate.
- A passion for learning with the ability to challenge and drive change.
- A restorative mind-set, focussed on improving outcomes for children and young people.
- The ability to use own initiative and take ownership of work programme
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