The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

• Experience of commissioning/procuring services in the context of children’s social care or SEND
• Commercially astute
• Knowledge of market development and provider management
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple prioritie

THE ROLE

As the Sufficiency and Market Development Lead, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that there there is a sufficiency of high quality and specialist services locally to meet both the current and future needs of our children and young people.
You will be responsible for:
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Market Analysis and Development: Undertake detailed assessments of the local children’s social care market, identifying gaps and opportunities for service growth and improvement.

• Provider Engagement: Build strong relationships with care providers, supporting them to develop and deliver high-quality services that align with local authority priorities.
• Service Innovation: Lead the design and implementation of new service models, working collaboratively with stakeholders to meet emerging needs.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and deliver a market development strategy that ensures sustainable, flexible, and cost-effective services.
• Quality and Performance: Monitor and evaluate the performance of providers, driving improvements and ensuring compliance with regulatory and safeguarding standards.
• Procurement and Contract Management: Support the commissioning process, including procurement and contract management, ensuring value for money and alignment with strategic objectives.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the successful commissioning of services that directly impact the wellbeing of children and young people

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

• Experience of commissioning/procuring services in the context of children’s social care or SEND
• Commercially astute
• Knowledge of market development and provider management
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

If you are a motivated and proactive individual with a passion for commissioning, we would love to hear from you.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ROLE IS FIXED TERM FOR TWO YEARS BUT MAY BE EXTENDED SUBJECT TO FUNDING

West Berkshire Council offer excellent employment benefits such as:

• Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21.00
• Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Generous Local Government pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A range of local discounts
• Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
• You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 29 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment
In addition to these benefits, you will be working in a supportive and inclusive environment, dedicated to making a positive impact on the local community.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jonny Woodthorpe on Jonny.Woodthorpe1@westberks.gov.uk
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