Senior Commissioning Officer

About Us

We have a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to join the Start Well Commissioning Team as a Senior Commissioning Officer. This role works across health, education and social care to improve outcomes for children, young people and families across Oxfordshire.

Do you want to make a difference for children and families and help deliver better outcomes through prevention, early intervention and integrated support in Oxfordshire? This role will play a key part in delivering Start Well priorities, with a particular focus on whole-family working, Best Start in Life, Families First and strengthening joined-up commissioning across the system.

At Oxfordshire County Council, we work in partnership with local organisations to deliver integrated services that support children, young people and their families. Through the Oxfordshire Way, we are focused on prevention, strengths-based approaches and improving outcomes for our residents.

Our Start Well service plays a leading role in shaping services for children and families, working across organisational boundaries to improve quality, sufficiency and outcomes through evidence-based commissioning and co-production.

About the Role

As a Senior Commissioning Officer, you will lead commissioning activity that delivers improved outcomes for children, young people and families. You will play a key role in delivering Start Well priorities, including prevention and early help, Best Start in Life, Families First and integrated service development across health, education and social care.

You will act as a system leader, working collaboratively with partners to design, develop and deliver high-quality, evidence-based services that meet current and future needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support commissioning activity linked to Start Well priorities, including prevention, early intervention, Best Start in Life and Families First.
• Contribute to transformation projects, including service redesign, market development, sufficiency planning and performance monitoring.
• Work with a wide range of stakeholders to assess and understand the needs of children, young people and families in Oxfordshire.
• Support the development and implementation of commissioning strategies and service models to ensure services deliver improved outcomes.
• Work closely with children, families, providers and partners to co-produce services and strengthen whole-family approaches.
• Support commissioning activity to ensure quality, value for money and positive outcomes for children and families.
• Ensure safeguarding is central to commissioning decisions, with services designed and monitored to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children, young people and families.
• Provide expert advice, business cases and analysis to inform decision-making and support statutory responsibilities.

About you

You will bring:

• A strong commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
• A clear commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and families.
• Knowledge and experience of commissioning, with a strong understanding of Start Well and experience of supporting service development in health, education or social care.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively across multi-agency environments.
• Excellent communication, analytical, report writing, organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and meet deadlines.
• Experience of prevention, early intervention, whole-family working or service transformation is desirable.

You will be motivated by making a positive difference to children and families in a complex, fast-paced environment.

Rewards and benefits

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays) (pro rata)
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Range of family friendly policies
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact: rebecca.lanchbury@oxfordshire.gov.uk