Vacancies

Head of Strategic Commissioning & Contracts

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

About the role

A unique opportunity to shape the provision of Adult Social Care across North Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire Council is an ambitious, exciting, innovative and supportive place to work. The Council is committed to working in partnership with people drawing on Adult Social Care Services to enable them to achieve the outcomes that are important to them. We are developing our Adult Social care Strategy for 2024-2029 and this role will be key in enabling us to achieve the ambitions set out within that strategy.

Our Commissioning and Contracts team sit within the Commissioning and Performance Directorate and are part of the wider Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing team. You will be part of the Directorate Management Team for Adults and will be confident in working collaboratively as part of a cohesive senior leadership team. This is an opportunity to join and lead a committed and talented commissioning team who have achieved great things over the last 3 years.

We are committed to your personal development; we support opportunities to focus on completing accredited training, apprenticeships and post graduate courses. With responsibility for the strategic commissioning and contract management across Adult Social Care this could be a career defining role and act as a springboard for progression for aspiring Assistant Directors or Directors. You will join a vibrant, forward-looking senior leadership team who are committed to service improvement, co-production and strengths based working.

For an informal conversation with Matthew Jenkins, Assistant Director Commissioning and Performance please contact the ASC business unit via ascbusinessunit@northnorthants.gov.uk.

What will you be doing?

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team of Commissioning and Contracts Managers working across all areas of Adult Social Care; shaping and transforming the future of local markets and developing positive working relationships with providers. The successful candidate will:

Lead all commissioning activity and contract designs for adult social care ensuring that co-production is at the heart of each stage of the commissioning cycle and that services are commissioned to meet people’s needs at the right time, at the right place and in a way that supports good outcomes for people.
Develop models of care and stimulate a vibrant market of micro providers.
Ensure that decisions and commissioning activity is based on evidence, analysis, resource mapping, service reviews and value for money evaluations so that contracts are constructed to support outcomes, evidence based and cost effective as well as meeting the changing needs of the specified population. This will include working with Public Health Advisors and NHS Commissioners as part of the Integrated Care System in North Northamptonshire.
To be responsible for the maintenance of a contracts register ensuring accurate records are maintained of contractual compliance and governance for procurement exercises.
Provide line management to commissioning and contract managers ensuring that a culture of collaboration and effective team working is fostered internally and externally.
Provide subject matter expertise regarding contract management and the creation of new contracting arrangements to support place-based commissioning and the Integrated Care System
Lead on the development and maintenance of market intelligence leading the strategic engagement with social care providers and trade associations.
Lead the development of commissioning strategies including financial management to ensure a sustainable market of high-quality social care providers.
Work as an integral part of the commissioning and performance service area management team fostering a culture of ‘One Team’ and supporting cross portfolio working.

About you

You will be an experienced leader and Adult Social Care subject matter expert. You will:

Substantial and demonstrable experience of leading change in a complex organisation or partnership in the public / voluntary sector proven experience of working in partnership to improve outcomes for people.
A comprehensive understanding of commissioning; particularly across health and care.
Have extensive experience of managing complex programmes of work that can deliver service improvement to challenging deadlines.
The post requires a collaborative style of working with a wide range of stakeholders across North Northamptonshire, including voluntary, community sector, education and social care systems.
Experience of developing and implementing strategic and operational policies and procedures.

Our benefits

We offer:

a competitive salary
a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

About us

We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.

Our priorities are:

helping people live active fulfilled lives
caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
enabling a thriving and successful economy
leading on a green and sustainable environment
ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
providing modern public services

Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.

Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.