Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Head of Children’s Services Commissioning
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance
Service	Commercial Services
Business unit	Children’s Services Commissioning
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Head of Commercial Services
Accountable to (line manager)	Head of Commercial Services
Salary grade	N
JE ref	FIN052

1. Key purpose of job

As a member of the Children’s Services Senior Leadership Team work with colleagues to deliver on and provide support and challenge in respect of the improvement journey to ensure the very best outcomes for our children, young people and their families.
Responsible for ensuring that commissioning is involved at all levels in the development and implementation of the One Children’s Services Vision.
Responsible for ensuring a system wide and system led approach to commissioning services for our children, young people and their families.
Responsible and accountable for the development and delivery of internal and externally facing commissioning policies, programmes, plans and strategies across all Children’s Services and the operationalisation of these.
Responsible for developing effective commissioning practice across Children’s Services.
Responsible for the development and implementation of a robust quality assurance system and outcome framework which can be effectively monitored as an integral part of the contract management system to ensure contract compliance and performance of internally and externally commissioned services.
Responsible for ensuring that the shaping of an innovative and evidence based approach to commissioning and service delivery is informed by effective research into and understanding of models of commissioning best practice.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

The right services are commissioned internally and externally to deliver the very best outcomes for our children, young people and their families, whilst ensuring best value within allocated and reducing resources and cost avoidance.
Services are commissioned on an integrated ‘One Children’s Services’ basis taking into account the multifaceted and wide ranging needs of our children, young people and their families.
Partnership working, joint commissioning, co-production and co-design is intrinsic to everything we do and we have effective relationships in place with key strategic partners and stakeholders.
Commissioning policies, programmes, plans and strategies are in place which effectively prioritise and deliver against the commissioning intentions through effective partnership working and the operationalisation of services.
There is a skilled, knowledgeable, informed and integrated workforce within Children’s Commissioning and across Children’s Services engaged in the effective commissioning, delivery and contract management of services.
There is a robust quality assurance system and outcome framework in place which celebrates success and addresses poor performance in a timely way.
The approach to commissioning is fully informed by best practice, a sound evidence base, local and national priorities, prevailing legislation and regulatory guidance.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times.
The postholder will have the autonomy to deliver on identified Council priorities.
Responsible and accountable for the effective leadership and management of the Children’s Commissioning function and staff.
To lead and be responsible for ensuring commissioning priorities, strategies and programmes identified and developed by the post holder are responsive to, inform and are informed by Ofsted inspection findings, improvement activities and Children Services strategic plans and priorities.
Responsible for ensuring effective partnership working, co-design and commissioning of internal and external services, promoting a joint approach working with key strategic partners including Public Health, Adult Social Care and Health through Devon NHS CCG and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and other regional and sub-regional local authorities.
Working with internal and external stakeholders and partners to ensure any commissioning and joint commissioning strategies and policies developed by the postholder are established in a collaborative and co-designed manner.
Responsible for developing and implementing Children Services commissioning and joint commissioning policy, strategies and approaches which evidence:
- the needs, aspirations, our ambitions for our children, young people and their families are met;
- Council, local and national priorities for children, young people and their families are met;
- co-production with children, young people and families is central to Children Services commissioning processes;
- working with colleagues and partners to ensure effective stakeholder and market engagement, co-production and co-design principles at all stages;
- effective relationships with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and the promotion of asset based commissioning;
- value for money evaluation, including price negotiation, contract monitoring and wider market bench marking for externally commissioned services;
- needs and gap analysis and demand forecasting;
- service design and specification development;
- resource analysis in terms of staff and assets;
- establishment of collaborations or partnerships between services for greater integration reducing duplication and improving efficiency;
- effective procurement, evaluation and ongoing contract management.
Responsible for identifying opportunities to access external funding and use of pooled budgets, ensuring these are maximised for the Council, partners and external service providers.
Responsible for ensuring commissioning programmes are delivered through a range of projects and activities across the service; prioritising and managing critical pathways and priorities to ensure timely delivery of milestones.
Representing the Council in the role of decision maker on a range of internal and external forums, including but not limited to the SEND Strategic Board, Early Help Board, 0-19 Board, Devon-wide Children and Young People’s Long Term Plan Programme Board, Child and Family Health Devon Liaison and Contract Review Meetings, Torbay Joint Commissioning Forum.
Lead commissioning work programmes and direct operational staff in analysing needs, gaps in provision, market trends to enable the post holder to undertake without the need to defer elsewhere or make recommendations to implement strategic change to improve the availability, range, quality and value for money of services.
Responsible for ensuring the development of and directing implementation and delivery of appropriate methods of participation, consultation and co-production with children, young people and their families to inform commissioning of services in Torbay.
As a member of the Children’s Services Senior Leadership Team championing and promoting transformational change through the delivery of new strategic approaches which feed into new service models.
Responsible for ensuring clearly defined commissioning protocols, agreements and processes are in place across Children’s Services by which service quality and compliance monitoring can be undertaken efficiently and effectively.
Utilise the analysis of complex information and data in relation to current service provision to map out future commissioning intentions. Responsible for ensuring liaison and partnership working with internal and external stakeholders in the analysis, planning design and delivery phases.
Responsible for ensuring the effective and timely consultation with multiple stakeholders including the public and elected members to ensure that statutory duties are met and political risk is managed.
To effectively lead and manage through support and challenge within the Children’s Commissioning Team, across Children Services and the wider system, as well externally commissioned providers to improve performance and outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Under the direction of the Director of Children Services lead when required specific areas of activity such as undertaking the lead Council strategic officer role for Young Carers and strategic commissioning lead for delivering against the SEND written statement of action and transformation to a One Children’s Vision.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

Responsible for Children Services external commissioning arrangements as per Council agreed budget and proposals
To manage and monitor a diverse portfolio of high value and complex externally commissioned contracts on behalf of the Council and other strategic partners as appropriate, within the agreed policy and processes for each organisation. This includes budgetary monitoring to ensure spend is on track and appropriate action is taken to address any pressures.
To secure resources for the delivery of plans, including creating and taking opportunities to gain external funding and/or partnership joint funding opportunities.
To make optimal use of available resources in support of policy and strategy.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

Direct line management and supervision of the Children’s Services Commissioning staff, ensuring the regular supervision of each team member using identified mechanisms. The post will manage two Strategic Commissioning Officers and one Commissioning Support Officer.
Overarching responsibility and strategic oversight of internal and external Children Services commissioning arrangements in Torbay, including supplier relationship and contract management of externally commissioned providers.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Normal working conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

Normal physical demands.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Normal resources.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External:

NHS Devon CCG.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, including Child and Family Health Devon.
Service Users and Their Representatives.
Torbay Joint Commissioning Forum.
Other Local Authorities and specifically SW Peninsula Local Authorities.
South West Sufficiency Project Board.
16+ Housing Provider Forum.
Children and Young People’s Long Term Plan Programme Board.
Schools Forum.
Devon and Torbay Prevent Partnership.
Devon-wide Carers Strategic Group.
Torbay Under 25 Young Carers Strategic Group.
Externally Commissioned Service Providers
Torbay Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector, including Torbay Community Development Trust and Imagine This Partnership.
Torbay Trauma Informed Network.

Internal:

Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Service, Officers and Members.
Children’s Services Divisional and Senior Leadership Teams.
Children’s Services, Public Health, Adult Services, Community & Customer Services (Community Safety and Housing Options) and Finance.
Children’s Services Continuous Improvement Board and Operational Improvement Board.
Children’s Services Sufficiency Board and all Associated Workstreams.
Early Help Board.
SEND Strategic Board.
0-19 Programme Board.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
The office location for the post is Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
The post is eligible for hybrid working.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Head of Children’s Services Commissioning
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance
Service	Commercial Services
Business unit	Children’s Services Commissioning

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Proven ability to work autonomously and without direction to meet the requirements of the role and Council priorities.
Proven ability to make decisions in line with the requirements of the role without the need to defer to more senior officers.
Proven ability to work on and prioritise multiple projects across a diverse range of subject matters encompassing all Children’s Services activity and able to deal with conflicting and ever changing priorities, in relation to own workload and that of direct reports.
Ability to demonstrate the motivational, negotiation, challenge and influencing skills required to secure:
- buy-in and best outcomes through collaborative and partnership working; and
- improved outcomes and best value within service delivery.
Ability to demonstrate mature problem solving and analytical skills to interpret statistical and written information and to produce planning documents and determine a range of informed and imaginative solutions.
Ability to demonstrate the leadership and management skills necessary to lead teams across a diverse portfolio of activity and across a range of stakeholders.
Ability to demonstrate the leadership and management skills necessary to ensure direct reports are effectively lead, managed and supported to deliver the outcomes required of their roles and the service as a whole.
Ability to demonstrate the extensive communication skills necessary to be able to present complex information clearly, in a range of formats to varied audiences.
Ability to demonstrate the ICT literacy and skills necessary produce a range of complex correspondence, reports, spread sheets, financial monitoring, presentations etc.
Proven ability to forward plan and prioritise activities over the course of months and years to meet strategic objectives.
Ability to demonstrate the skills necessary to work effectively as part of the wider Procurement Contract Management and Commissioning team to deliver against policy and strategy, as well as commercial negotiations with contracted suppliers to deliver better terms and efficiency savings.
Proven ability to undertake and use research to inform practice, service improvement and change, and opportunities for the Council.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Proven ability to deliver excellent outcomes within the public / third sector or a social care / health setting in a commissioning or senior operational lead function.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Extensive knowledge of Children’s Services commissioning in a local authority context sufficient to ensure understanding of the impact and consequences of the decisions made on Council policy, strategy, the wider system, services and individual service users.
In depth understanding of Council policies, priorities, structure and governance.
Specialist knowledge and understanding of the full commissioning cycle, including needs assessment, co-production and market appraisal.
Extensive knowledge of key social care, education, health and other relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks and policy guidance. This should include the Children’s Act, Education Act, Ofsted Inspection Framework, commissioning best practice and guidance, public contracts regulations, contract law, social value, best value, modern slavery, data protection, transparency and transformation agenda.
In depth knowledge of performance management, policy development and service improvement methodologies and their application, including quality standards and development of management information systems.
Extensive knowledge and understanding, at a local and national level, of current and future trends and issues affecting the Commissioning and delivery of children's statutory and non-statutory social care services.
Knowledge, understanding and commitment to delivering excellence in customer care and the importance of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices in service planning and delivery.
Knowledge and understanding of the full suite of Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of external partnership and stakeholder arrangements with in a local authority Children’s Services context.
Understanding of the democratic process within public services.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Demonstrable experience of the successful commissioning of services for children, young people and their families.
Demonstrable experience of partnership and collaborative working across a diverse range of stakeholders.
Demonstrable experience of co-production/ and consultation with service users, carers and other key stakeholders in the design and delivery of outcomes-focused services that meet children, young people and their family’s needs and aspirations.
Demonstrable experience of devising short, medium and long term strategies and plans to deliver against strategic objectives.
Demonstrable experience of delivering commissioning management systems / methodologies and use of outcome-based approaches (such as Outcomes Based Accountability).
A proven track record in the management of projects across organisational boundaries.
Demonstrable leadership and management experience, including leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams, performance and financial management.
Demonstrable experience of change management within organisation and partner organisations.
A proven track record in formulating and delivering presentations to a diverse audience, supported by the effective facilitation of group working and collaborative activities.
Budget management experience and demonstrable skills in achieving financial balance.
Extensive experience of developing, writing, managing and monitoring contractual arrangements, managing contract compliance processes, identifying and implementing opportunities for improvement/service redesign within externally contracted provision to ensure value for money and better outcomes.
Demonstrable experience in tender and bid writing.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of commissioning services for special education needs and/or disability, safeguarding and specialist services for children, young people and their families.
Experience of public sector settings such as social care, health and education and experience of strategy development systems.
Experience of working within and delivering excellent outcomes within the public and/or third sector or a social care or health setting, within a commissioning or senior operational lead function.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Educated to Degree level or equivalent or demonstrable academic ability / experience in relevant field.
Evidence of continuing leadership and management professional and personal development.
Relevant commissioning qualification such as Institute of Public Care (IPC) or equivalent, or willingness to work towards a relevant qualification.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Leadership or Management qualification.
Project/programme Management qualification.
Social Care or allied professional qualification.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Demonstrates a commitment to putting the voice of children, young people and their families at the centre of practice.
Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate occasional unsociable hours, such as weekends or evening outside of core hours.
Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.