Hub Commissioner

Seven Resourcing is working with Coventry City Council to recruit a West Midlands Hub Commissioner for their Children's Services.

**Initial 12 month contract.**
**£24.66 per hour PAYE**
**Experience in QA/Commissioning is needed.**

**Job Purpose**:
In relation to children’s strategic commissioning, drive and support partnership working and collaboration on behalf of and between the fourteen local authorities and the Children’s Trusts across the West Midlands.
Take responsibility for leading, facilitating or co-ordinating effective regional commissioning which delivers good quality, value for money services for children, young people and families that meet identified need.

**Duties**:

- To manage, facilitate or co-ordinate effective commissioning of services for children and young people in accordance with national standards, legislation and relevant policy, and working in partnership with West Midlands local authorities and Children’s Trusts, health partners, providers, other statutory agencies and voluntary organisations.
- To support the West Midlands Commissioning Hub Manager to create an environment where the skills, expertise and resources of the commissioning and placement resources in the region are supported and enabled to collaborate in improving the quality, cost and effectiveness of the relevant markets.
- To support the development and delivery of the Strategic Commissioning Network (SCN) forward plan, as agreed by the West Midlands Directors of Children’s Services (WM ADCS), monitoring progress against key milestones to ensure the programme delivers on time on budget and to agreed quality standards.
- To support and/or undertake commissioning activity that is based on a clear commissioning framework that incorporates current and future needs analysis, service mapping, consultation and engagement, options appraisal and benefits realisation.
- To undertake work to analyse needs, gaps in provision, market trends, quality and effectiveness and to make recommendations to implement strategic change to improve the availability, range, quality and value for money of services across the whole of the West Midlands
- To support the development of a programme of contract monitoring, contract management, contract negotiation and price review activities at regional level, co-ordinating across partner local authorities and Trusts where necessary.
- To work with the West Midlands Commissioning Hub Manager and Contract Monitoring Officer to ensure that all contracted services offer value for money, leading or supporting on negotiations with suppliers to deliver better terms and efficiency savings where appropriate for West Midlands Local Authorities and Children’s Trusts.
- To undertake and/or support market development initiatives at regional and/or sub-regional level to improve placement sufficiency and access to other services for children and young people.
- To ensure that the voice of children, young people and families, carer who use services, carers and advocates are at the heart of the commissioning and review of services through effective mechanisms for involvement and consultation.
- To have specialist knowledge of legislation, regulations, guidance, policy and practice issues including safeguarding in respect of services for looked after children and to implement it in the commissioning of services for children, young people and families.
- To work within relevant commissioning and procurement processes, working closely with procurement and legal services and preparing or overseeing the production of relevant reports to ensure compliance with governance arrangements. Ensure that contracts and service level agreements are in place that comply with the lead authority and other statutory/legislative requirements.
- To liaise with operational staff, health professionals, service users and carers to draw up service specifications to meet need, defining best value and measurable quality outcomes and ensuring services are provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner that is consistent with good practice.
- To act as a focal point for queries, variations and amendments to regional and/or sub-regional contracts.
- To be responsible for ensuring that information management, performance and quality assurance systems are in place for all regional frameworks and/or commissioned services.
- To have a lead role in the evaluation and review of regional contract arrangements, including pricing and quality outcomes.
- Work closely with Finance officers to ensure the effective management of team budgets and implementation of financial management systems.
- Keep abreast of, and advise on, the implications of national and local policy initiatives; ensuring familiarity with legislation, research and specialist advice and use this information to help inform and develop services locally.
- Any other duties and responsibilities within the range of the salary grade.

**Knowledge**
- Detailed knowledge and