Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Strategic Commissioning Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults
Service	Adults and Community Services
Business unit	Adult Social Care Commissioning Team
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Strategic Commissioning Manager
Accountable to (line manager)	Strategic Commissioning Manager
Salary grade	K
JE ref	AS01

1. Key purpose of job

To commission services in line with the commissioning cycle, which ensure capacity and quality of service supply within the given financial parameters of the commissioning budget and where appropriate decommission services.
To create, coordinate and deliver engagement plans to inform the commissioning cycle.
To leverage the budget and optimise commissioning arrangements through facilitating service redesign and co-commissioning with other Local Authorities (OLA’s) and commissioning organisations, e.g., NHS Devon as the Integrated Care System (ICS)
To undertake a range of project work to enable services available from independent and third sector providers to continually evolve to match:
- The needs of service users (as identified in the Joint Strategic Needs Analysis (JSNA));
- The priorities and resources of the commissioning authorities.
- Best practice, national and local policy.
To write service specifications which meet the needs established in the JSNA and articulated in the Commissioning Strategies and drive outcome-based approaches to the delivery of care with commensurate metrics and measures.
To develop and draft contract frameworks that will ensure the delivery of services which meet those specifications at an agreed/ usual cost which represents Best Value for the Council, the NHS and service users.
To be able to research and undertake a level of data analysis to estimate the expected demand for services.
To be able to report national and international learning and present to colleagues for the purposes of horizon scanning, best practice and service development.
To work with service users, their carers and providers to ensure innovation in the way that independent providers and third sector organisations work to meet the needs of the population.
To undertake investigations into contract compliance where significant or sustained concerns have been reported to the Commissioning Team and, where necessary, initiate contract enforcement processes.
To collaborate with front-line teams, service users and their carers to collate information regarding unmet needs, or potential alternative service solutions, to inform commissioning strategies and the negotiation of service improvement with providers.
To coordinate and deliver the commissioning cycle involving procurement, finance, performance, and quality assessment teams.
With the knowledge of the market coordinate and complete the return of stocktakes, reports and performance data to for example: Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC), Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).
To represent and enhance the profile of the Council with providers, peer organisations and the public.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously with a designated group of providers (or area of the market), e.g., care homeowners, those that wish to challenge safeguarding issues, domiciliary care providers looking to challenge the commissioning strategies, groups of service users concerned about accepting service changes designed to improve care.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously to manage a few project teams to deliver an agreed range of project developments in care services on time and to budget, e.g., Living Well@Home, co-ordinating council, NHS Foundation Trust, ICS and housing commissioners whilst seeking frontline changes for pathway redesign.
To have a full understanding of policy, guidance and legislation and ensure that best practice is applied in the development and commissioning of services locally, e.g., cross authority approaches on the Care Act.
To respond appropriately to evidenced outcomes and ensure this is applied in all service development and commissioning activity, e.g., working with Public Health colleagues on preventative initiatives.
To be responsible for negotiating with private, public and voluntary organisations to achieve and improve efficiencies, whilst also assuring the quality of provision. This will require developing a range of imaginative solutions or responses, involving the application of fresh and innovating thinking, e.g., developing an outcomes-focused approach to care and support within the community.
To negotiate and take decisions in meetings with providers about contract values and, where necessary/warranted, issuing enforcement notices or suspending contracts.
As part of the Annual Strategic Agreement with the TSDFT / ICO, dealing with a range of complex and contentious matters requiring support, persuasion, advocacy and sensitivity. This might include recommending potential changes to important procedures or service practice that will have a significant impact on the quality or extent of the care and support provided.
To take and/or inform decisions which have significant implications for the service or significant effects on others that will involve the handling of conflicting views, sensitive information and drawing conclusions that may be contentious.
To manage a workload that will be subject to deadlines involving changing problems, circumstances or demand.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

To be responsible for development, management, and delivery of project work within a designated area of the market. This could be defined by service user group or service type.
To have strategic oversight of contract terms and specifications for providers, in partnership with the ICO’s market management team, to ensure the delivery of high-quality care at a price, or usual cost of care, which ensures best value for local commissioners.
To have strategic oversight of contract compliance issues with service providers, including close monitoring of remedial action plans and taking enforcement actions, where providers are failing to meet contract requirements and specifications.
To attend and take a strategic market lead in meetings on performance and safeguarding when escalated from the ICO.
To have strategic oversight of designated block contracts and frameworks.
Production of joint and integrated commissioning arrangements with OLA’s and system partners both as associate and lead commissioning organisation.
Produce assurance for the Council as to consultation obligations being fulfilled and best practice considered.
To maintain effective working relationships with an allocated group of providers.
Individual and Team Objectives will be agreed and reviewed annually and set out in the Commissioning Priorities and Work Plan.
Enable the Council to be Care Act 2014 compliant.
Enable the Council to meet its obligations in respect personalisation and self-directed support.
Further develop the profile of the council and the commissioning function.
Build an in-depth knowledge of the portfolio issues and client groups to inform the strategic Partnerships Manager and Director of Adult & Community Services.

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.
To support the Strategic Partnerships Manager in developing a clear Commissioning Plan which is in line with the priorities and resources of local commissioners and designed to improve and transform the services available to local people.
Deputise for the Strategic Partnerships Manager and Strategic Commissioning Managers when required to do so.
To supervise a commissioning support officer when required.
To promote the delivery of high-quality services and the delivery of continual service improvement in all contacts with providers of care services.
Produce draft press releases and statements for Communications colleagues to review which will promote the Council’s profile in respect of strategy and policy both national and local.
Produce responses to members and MP’s enquiries on issues relevant to the portfolio.
To ensure that contracting policy and practice is consistent with national guidance, best practice and statutory requirements.
To contribute to the development and agreement of the Annual Strategic Agreement between the Care Trust and the Council.
To be involved in co-ordinating and running regular meetings with providers which provide a forum for the communication of information, the promotion of continual service improvement and quality development initiatives.
To work with providers to increase the range, choice and quality of services and develop an outcome-based approach to contracting and service delivery.
To build relationships within individual providers which deliver the vision for integrated health and care agreed between the Trust and the Council as set out in the Annual Accountability Agreement.
To take responsibility for specific programmes and projects and to prepare and deliver reports and presentations as appropriate to operational and management teams within the Trust.
Work with strategic and operational professional leads, service managers and users/carers to ensure that good practice, (new) policies, protocols and service development plans are understood and implemented at a local level.
To promote the principle that the people who use our services, and their carers, should be at the centre of all we say and do in all contacts and interactions with providers, staff, people who use our services, carers, partner organisations and members of the public.
To lead several project teams which may comprise colleagues from other teams/directorates within the Council, within Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and from other organisations as appropriate. To be accountable for the performance of all team members in relation to their work on the project and to be able to ensure delivery through influencing and supporting project team members and ensuring that the correct resources are deployed within the project.
To collaborate with the owners and managers of provider organisations to encourage them to adapt to changes in the market and adopt models of care and business solutions which are sustainable in the longer term.
The post holder should ensure that they:
- Attend and complete all mandatory training and other courses/events as required by the Strategic Partnerships Manager.
- Take a full part in their own annual appraisals/performance reviews.
- Abide by the relevant HR and operational policies of the Council.
To represent the Council, and the Trust, at local meetings/forums to further engagement and consultation.
To represent the Council, and the Trust, at local meetings/forums to promote the delivery of agreed commissioning and service strategies.
To represent the Council and the Care Trust at local and regional events in respect of commissioning and policy developments/issues and about the client cohort within the portfolio.
To establish effective communication and relationship conduits with peninsular authorities.
To communicate and receive complex and sensitive information to representatives of provider organisations, Trust staff, partner organisations, and the public. This will involve undertaking presentations. In Contract negotiations and compliance reviews this could include operating in contentious or antagonistic situations.
To be involved in developing partnership approaches across the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors to ensure that services are developed and delivered in a way which is responsive to need and places individuals at the centre of the care they require.
To consult with front line teams and staff to collate information about unmet needs, or potential alternative service solutions, to inform commissioning strategies and the negotiation of service improvement with providers.
To work closely with the Trust’s Market Management Team to ensure that where providers fail to address concerns about care quality raised through the Provider of Concern Process (led by the Trust’s Market Management Team), this is escalated and addressed with the Providers by nominated members of the Commissioning Team as the strategic commissioners of these services.
To produce briefing papers and reports for senior managers, including those for presentation to elected members.
To be aware of current policy and demand drivers and be able to produce innovative and responsive commissioning options.
To promote the delivery of high-quality services and the delivery of continual service improvement in all contacts with providers of care services.
To develop, negotiate and agree contract frameworks with providers that result in the delivery of high-quality outcome-based services which meet the needs of local people and are in line with the requirements agreed by and between commissioning authorities.
To investigate complaints appropriately, in accordance with the requirements of each agency.
To ensure that policies and procedures about Safeguarding Adults and Children are understood, adopted and applied by all providers who hold contracts for the delivery of services with the Council or the Trust. This will include directing and leading whole home investigations and taking part in Whole Service Safeguarding Reviews where appropriate.
To design and lead briefing sessions for frontline staff about the provisions, options and requirements set out in service specification frameworks, for care services, agreed with providers.
To undertake a proportion of each month to meet with frontline teams and service users to maintain knowledge and ‘feel’ for the market. Levels of both empathy and detachment to ensure a balanced professional approach.
To operate within parameters agreed with the Strategic Partnerships Manager to deliver the objectives of the Trust and the Council.
To make autonomous decisions within delegated authority to progress or conclude negotiations and quality/safeguarding actions.
To ensure that risk management policies and procedures are implemented, in the defined area in accordance with the requirements of each agency, and that risks are managed/mitigated locally or escalated to an appropriate level in the organisation.
To be aware of and promote compliance with current Health and Safety legislation, in their own work and collaborating with providers of care contracted to either the Council or the Trust.
To use performance management information with staff and others as the basis for continuous service improvement.
To fully use and use the IT systems that are available to the Team.
To operate clinical governance and other quality assurance systems which are in place to ensure service user safety, service quality and continual service improvement.
To learn and understand research to inform opportunities for development and improvement to ensure integrated services provide for, meet, or exceed national standards for performance and innovation where possible.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

To manage and monitor a designated portfolio of contracts on behalf of the Council and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust as appropriate, and within the agreed policy and processes for each organisation.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

To supervise a project support officer and their portfolio. Responsibilities will include regular supervision and preparation for annual appraisal as well as producing an evidence base for all performance.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

The post holder will work predominantly within an office environment but will be required to travel regularly as part of their role.
Normal working environment and conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

This role will require normal physical effort.

8. Specific resources used by the post

The post will be responsible for the use of standard office equipment, laptops, etc.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Integrated Care System (NHS Devon), Voluntary Sector, Providers, Service Users, and their representatives.

Internal

Procurement / Finance / Performance.

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 Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
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	Strategic Commissioning Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults
Service	Adults and Community Services
Business unit	Adult Social Care Commissioning Team

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Ability to negotiate and influence internal colleagues, other public and private sector organisations, and key partners to secure improved outcomes.
Ability to assimilate, understand, analyse interpret and communicate complex information and data to inform decision making.
Ability to make decisions that may have significant implications for others and confidently provide rationale.
Confident and competent when under external and internal scrutiny.
Proven critical thinking skills and the ability to identify causes and determine a range of informed and imaginative solutions.
Ability to plan, organise and use resources effectively and efficiently.
Ability to work to, and be motivated by, deadlines involving changing problems, circumstances and conflicting priorities.
Excellent communication and presentation skill and competent use of PowerPoint.
Numerate with analytical skills to evaluate data.
Ability to use standard MS Office applications and a willingness to acquire new ICT skills.
As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Proven experience of working within and delivering excellent outcomes within a Social Care or Health setting, ideally within a Commissioning function.
Experience of preparing and presenting policy documents and business cases at team or unit level.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

An understanding and comprehension of the Commissioning Cycle.
An understanding of the current policy agenda in regard to the delivery of integrated care.
An understanding of the application and impact of eligibility criteria in health and social care services.
Specialist knowledge of the current trends and issues affecting the Commissioning and delivery of social care services.
Knowledge of current requirements and of the developing agenda about the commissioning of care and specialist housing services.
Knowledge, understanding and commitment to delivering excellence in customer care.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of key health and social care legislation.
Knowledge and awareness of Safeguarding legislation and policy guidance.
Understanding of the democratic process within public services.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experience of developing, writing, managing, and monitoring contract frameworks and specification.
Experience of presentations and facilitating groups.
Experience of managing contract compliance processes.
Experience of negotiating Service Level Agreements and monitoring performance/making changes to ensure value for money.
A proven history in the management of projects across organisational boundaries.
Experience of outcome-based models for contracting and care delivery.
Experience of operational management in health and social care including supervision training.
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 their needs and aspirations.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of developing medium term plans at team or unit level.
Experience of use of social media for publicity, engagement of the public, and service improvement.
Budget management experience and demonstrable skills in achieving financial balance.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Educated to Degree level or equivalent academic ability, or hold an appropriate professional qualification, or demonstrate relevant equivalent experience.
Evidence of continuing professional and personal development.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Commissioning qualification.
Management qualification.
Project/programme Management qualification.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, children and young people.
Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate occasional homeworking.