Strategic Commissioning Manager - Substance Use (Public Health)

Background

Croydon is one of London’s largest and most diverse boroughs, with distinct and varied communities creating an exciting place full of opportunity. We are proud of our heritage, creativity and diversity, which is at the heart of Croydon’s London Borough of Culture 2023 celebrations.

Home to more than 409,000 residents, we are the most populous local authority in London, with the largest number of under 18s of any borough. Our population is expected to grow by 5.9% by 2034, with the majority of this rise being seen in the older population.

Croydon currently faces a number of challenges. Some of these are unique to the borough and we have developed improvement programmes for the organisation to deliver on the changes necessary

Similar to other London boroughs Croydon faces challenges from crime, deprivation and substance use which often exist side by side and affect the lives of our residents. The borough seeks to achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs and alcohol and to ensure the local services are part of a wider world-class system of treatment and recovery for people who experience substance use disorders. This work defines and supports the national ambition around breaking the drugs supply chain.

The Croydon Public Health department sits within the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate. The Adult’s Public Health Commissioning function sits within the Strategic Commissioning and Improvement team in the same Directorate. This enables strong partnership working and problem-solving with like-minded commissioners focused on how services can best meet the needs of our local communities. We work closely with the One Croydon Alliance in order to achieve the ambitions of our Croydon Health and Care Plan and the Croydon Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Strategic Commissioning & Improvement for Adult Social Care & Public Health Vision:

We will ensure that health and social care services in Croydon are designed with and for the people of Croydon. Our aim is to develop, review and continually improve services so that they are based on the assets and strengths of local communities and reduce health inequalities, helping people to live happy, health and independent lives.

As a commissioning team our purpose statement is:

“To ensure there are effective services available for the adult population of Croydon that maximise independence and wellbeing. Commissioners work with market drive innovation to deliver improved outcomes and ensure best value.”

Join our team

We have an ambitious programme of transformation to deliver on our Public Health programmes, and this post will be at the heart of achieving this change. Working closely with Croydon Combating Drugs Partnership and people with lived experience, to develop our needs assessment and commissioning intentions, this post will be instrumental in designing, commissioning and developing treatment and recovery services for people who experience substance use disorders.

We are seeking an individual who would like to be part of our exciting transformational journey and has the skills to drive forward change at pace while providing subject matter expertise, strategic oversight and management to a team of commissioning and contract officers.

To view the role profile please click here.

If you would like to know more about the role or would like to have an informal discussion, please contact Leanne Bobb – Head of Strategic Commissioning Improvement for Adult Social Care & Health and Public Health leanne.bobb@croydon.gov.uk

Proposed Interview Dates:

• Wednesday 08th July 2026 – PM
• Thursday 09th July 2026 – AM