Senior Service Provision Officer

Job title: Senior Service Provision Officer
Salary: £44,253 progressing to £48,738 per annum
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage
Contract: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the Team

The Children's Services Brokerage Team is responsible for securing high-quality, timely and cost-effective support for children, young people and their families across Hertfordshire.

Working in partnership with Social Workers, SEND services, Health professionals, Commissioners and external providers, the team sources and secures a wide range of services, including support packages, short breaks, specialist provision and placements. The team plays a key role in ensuring children receive the right support at the right time while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding, quality and value for money.

About the Role

As a Senior Service Provision Officer, you will support the delivery of an effective brokerage service, helping to secure appropriate support and placements for children and young people with a range of needs.

You will provide day-to-day guidance and support to Brokerage Officers, oversee complex service requests and placement searches, and work closely with colleagues, providers and partner agencies to identify solutions that achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

This is a varied role requiring excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, together with the ability to manage competing priorities within a busy service environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• You will support the Team Manager in the day-to-day operation of the Children's Services Brokerage Team and provide guidance and support to Brokerage Officers to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• You will oversee complex brokerage requests and placement searches, working with colleagues, providers and partner agencies to secure appropriate services for children and young people.
• You will build positive relationships with providers, support negotiations to achieve value for money, and help resolve complex service and placement challenges.
• You will monitor performance, undertake quality assurance activities, maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with safeguarding responsibilities, legislation and local procedures.
• You will also contribute to service improvements by identifying trends, barriers and opportunities to enhance service delivery.

About You

We are looking for a motivated and solution-focused individual with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

Essential:

• Experience working with disabled children and young people and/or within Children's Social Care.
• Experience working collaboratively with families, professionals and partner organisations.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding principles and responsibilities.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to analyse information and identify effective solutions.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and using electronic recording systems.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.

Desirable:

• Experience within a brokerage, commissioning, placement-finding or support coordination function.
• Knowledge of services available for children and young people with SEND and disabilities.
• Experience working with care, education or support providers.
• Understanding of Children's Services legislation and statutory processes.

What We Offer

In return, we offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance, alongside a generous annual leave entitlement and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

You will benefit from a comprehensive learning and development programme, opportunities for career progression within Children's Services, and a range of wellbeing resources designed to support your health and wellbeing. We also offer a wide-ranging employee benefits package, giving you access to discounts, support services and additional benefits as part of your employment with Hertfordshire County Council.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Catherine.Wangechi@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Interview date: 4th and 5th November

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 11. Please locate the job profile here:

Job profiles - Health and social care

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Councilis undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.