Contracts Manager

Job summary

The Contract Manager for CHC will work within the Wakefield Health and Care Partnership, with responsibility for NHS contracting, sitting across the CHC and Local Authority commissioning teams to provide effective contract management support with responsibility for a portfolio of contracts, in particular Continuing Healthcare. The post holder will be required to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Wakefield Health and Care Partnership and will be placed within the Local Authority contracts and commissioning team, to ensure contracts reflect the Wakefield Health and Care Partnerships strategy and commissioning intentions.

The postholder will maintain a portfolio of provider contracts, with responsibilities including:-

Contract negotiation and annual contract production

Develop effective relationships with service providers

Monitor delivery of national performance and quality targets

Ensure clinical governance, evidence of effectiveness and best value is taken fully into account through KPIs and other reporting

Lead on the development of new contracts

Market management- working collaboratively with Local Authority to ensure effective oversight of market sustainability of health and care providers

Maintaining a working relationship with the consolidated contracting team within NHS West Yorkshire ICB.

Main duties of the job

The Contract Manager will work within the Wakefield Health and Care Partnership, with responsibility for NHS contracting, sitting across the CHC and Local Authority commissioning teams to provide effective contract management support with responsibility for a portfolio of contracts, in particular Continuing Healthcare. The post holder will be required to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Wakefield Health and Care Partnership and will be placed within the Local Authority contracts and commissioning team, to ensure contracts reflect the Wakefield Health and Care Partnerships strategy and commissioning intentions.

The postholder will maintain a portfolio of provider contracts, with responsibilities including:-

Contract negotiation and annual contract production

Develop effective relationships with service providers

Monitor delivery of national performance and quality targets

Ensure clinical governance, evidence of effectiveness and best value is taken fully into account through KPIs and other reporting

Lead on the development of new contracts

Working in partnership with Local Authority to manage provider failure, closures, issues and concerns from a contracting perspective

Market management- working collaboratively with Local Authority to ensure effective oversight of market sustainability of health and care providers

Maintaining a working relationship with the consolidated contracting team within NHS West Yorkshire ICB.

About us

NHSWest Yorkshire ICB is responsible for improving population health and reducinginequalities to meet the diverse health needs of its population and is part ofthe West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership which includes organisations,local councils, health and care providers and voluntary, community and socialenterprise organisations.

Weare passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and valuesdiversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, valuesand behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectivesand backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment thatdelivers patient outcomes.

Weare committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution isvalued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their fullpotential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of thecommunity, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protectedcharacteristics.

We operatea Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. Weactively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves and are offered a workingCarer passport.

As a MindfulEmployer we are positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicantswith a mental health condition.

We are a DisabilityConfident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet theessential criteria for an informus of any adjustments you may require.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Active contract performance management to ensure contracted services remain within budget, achieve required activity levels and deliver quality focused and outcome based services.

Liaison with ICB colleagues to transform commissioned services ensuring activities are delivered in the most appropriate setting by the most appropriate provider, delivering desired outcomes, offering value for money and providing on-going quality improvements.

Undertake rigorous financial control of all commissioned activities, identifying appropriate strategies for monitoring financial performance of commissioned services and ensuring best value for money.

Demonstrate full understanding of negotiation dynamics and consistently utilises successful negotiating and influencing behaviours.

Adopt a leading role in working with the Local Authority and other stakeholders to effectively manage the procurement of new services and service models to include: the appropriate use of option appraisal tools and methodologies, the development of service specifications, and the tender review, selection and appointment process.

Working with the Local Authority commissioning colleagues to establish and consistent robust performance management processes, ensuring accountability of NHS contracts and frameworks.

Working with the Local Authority and other stakeholders to develop new NHS service models, including development of clear communication channels with all stakeholders.

Produce and/or contribute to regular reports with the Local Authority, to present to appropriate partnership management forums across the health and care partnership, including committees and the Governing Body, ensuring that progress and key decisions are effectively communicated internally and externally.

Have an appreciation and understanding of the requirements of Local Authority contract and frameworks, applying processes and standards consistently across the management of NHS contracts, taking a proactive approach in resolving problems.

Developing contract monitoring and process, consistent with Local Authority systems and support the management of key contracts to drive continuous performance and quality improvements.

Able to define comprehensive metrics for measurement of supplier performance, to manage both current service quality and future service improvements.

Working in partnership with the LA and other stakeholders to take appropriate contractual actions, including remedial and corrective action and contract terminations, in the event of provider poor performance

Ensure that NHS Contract Governance is followed in relation to signature, administration and storage of contracts.

To contribute to the development of the NHS service business plan, NHS QIPP projects and lead on associated projects including partnership projects as required, developing priority planning with the Local Authority to ensure strategic oversight of service delivery planning.

To be aware of the implementation and function of the NHS National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS Funded Nursing Care and the NHS National Framework for children and young adults, and any updated / amended Frameworks and the impact on NHS contracts.

To work alongside any other agency to ensure effective service delivery Independent Sector, CQC, Regulatory bodies, Local Authority, primary, secondary and tertiary health services.

To work with and alongside specialist service providers to ensure those with complex health needs receive the appropriate care.

To have an understanding / awareness of the legal processes with regards CHC and its associated functions, including an appreciation and understanding of Adult Social Care statutory obligations under the Care Act.

Work alongside the Business Support Operational Lead and assist in the Management of the Teams business support function, including developing and managing the teams business plan, progress and reporting risk and issue management.

Oversight and management of all aspects of the NHS Contracting team budgets where delegated.

To liaise with service users and/or their representatives offering support, advice and guidance where required on provider / contractual issues.

To communicate (through various forms including oral and written) with a wide range of stakeholders. Manage complex and sometimes challenging conversations/meetings through regular attendance at partnership meetings and interactions necessitating a high level of interpersonal and communication skills, relationship management across Health and Social care organisations and provider sector.

To respond to telephone/written/face to face enquiries from colleagues in health and social care settings, contracted providers, the general public, residential and nursing home staff advising as appropriate and in a timely manner to ensure that the expectations of the service users and/or representatives are met. Undertake responses in relation to complaints and MP enquiries in line with appropriate NHS complaints processes.

To participate in the formulation of NHS policies and procedures for use within NHS Continuing Healthcare, with particular focus on changes to national guidelines.

Working with ICB Core Contracting Team, CHC contractors and Local Authority contract managers, to oversee the NHS Contract register and its upkeep.

Lead on provider NHS contracts and rates / uplifts for AACC (All age continuing care) particular Domiciliary Care, Care Homes and Personal Health Budgets.

To oversee the brokerage function of the NHS contracting team, working with the Local Authority and the wider provider market ensuring the negotiation of rates and commission appropriate care focusing on value for money. Inclusive of appropriate checks on provider suitability, onboarding of the provider onto the information management system.

To provide complex statistical and on occasion highly sensitive information for contractual monitoring purposes, financial reporting, NHS QIPP reporting and service development, and sharing information across organisations and partners as needed.

Undertake any other duties as appropriate, and work flexibly to ensure the department functions effectively.

Staff Management

Provide direct line management to the Wakefield NHS Continuing Healthcare Contracting team.

Lead in the coordination of training, development and recruitment activity across the Wakefield NHS Contracting team.

Manage staff, undertaking appraisals, recruitment, progressing any disciplinary or capability issues, as necessary.

Responsible for monitoring staff sickness and ensuring effective sickness performance management is complied with.

Responsible for following the sickness policy and conducting sickness meetings when stages are triggered.

Responsible for monitoring and oversight of staff workloads.

Ensure compliance across the Wakefield NHS Contracting team in relation to the maintaining of the individual patient database, ensuring all information is accurate, relevant and inputted in a timely manner.

Plan and co-ordinate work prioritising and re-prioritising to respond to the needs of the service.

Manage multiple processes simultaneously whilst enabling individuals to focus on own area of responsibility.

Delegate authority to individuals whilst monitoring against required outcomes having agreed clear, explicit and achievable targets.

Agree ways in which development will be supported and how performance will be monitored and reviewed.

Project Management

Contribute to performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas where agreed.

Provide coordination of and participate in relevant internal and external working groups and provide project advice, expertise and support where requested.

Provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on own portfolio of projects/function.

Work with members of the integrated commissioning team to investigate the causes of any variance from target/plan and proactively contribute to the implementation of solutions.

Management of a risk and issues tracking mechanism and its proactive resolution and escalation processes and working across with Local Authority colleagues to mitigate escalated risks.

Financial and Physical Resources

Attend and contribute to the weekly NHS Resource Panel providing expert advice on contracting, resource allocation and quality assurance.

Act as authorised signatory for every NHS Continuing Healthcare package assuring contractual and agreed cost oversight.

Provide regular reporting on the targeting of resources and monitoring their implementation from a value for money perspective.

Evaluate projects/function within identified portfolio for delivery against financial recovery/savings plans through providing sophisticated, complex, high quality analysis.

Identify financial recoveries and savings working alongside clinical colleagues whilst ensuring the needs of the client is maintained and the quality of care remains of a high standard.

Ensure that public finances are apportioned appropriately following procurement policies and procedures.

Through sophisticated analysis of data obtained through contractual monitoring, service database and provider negotiation review the appropriateness of monies apportioned to individual and group cases.

Working with NHS Operational Lead, NHS Head of Service and across CHC and Local Authority organisations to identify where financial and physical resources can be best apportioned to assist the delivery of care and delivery of the services core functions.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

Essential

Able to think conceptually; recognizing assumptions, interpreting and evaluating arguments and deducing inferences. Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to identify several solutions. Able to think on their feet when dealing with issues / problems. Computer literate with an ability to use the required systems/office packages. Able to analyse and interpret data to draw conclusions. Able to effectively manage resources (financial and others) to ensure delivery of a service/project. Able to provide, receive, convey and present information in a clear way. Ability to work autonomously. Ability to prioritise workload and meet demanding deadlines. Excellent verbal and written skills. Good presentation and facilitation skills. Knowledge and understanding of IT Systems and software that supports commissioning.

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of IT Systems and software that supports commissioning.

Experience

Essential

Knowledge of NHS Continuing Healthcare and healthcare arrangements, appreciation and understanding of Adult Social Care funding arrangements Further knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent. Evidence of ongoing professional development. Contract management experience. Experience of undertaking financial analysis Experience of multi-disciplinary teams / multi-agency teams. Experience of communicating and engaging effectively with external agencies/stakeholders. Experience of contracting and/or commissioning Health and/or Social Care services. Sound knowledge of current relevant policy, legislation and procedures.

Desirable

Experience of project management. Experience of leading and managing staff. Significant experience at a management level within the NHS, local government or other relevant organisation.

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area. Knowledge, understanding and experience of working within contracting. Knowledge and experience of working with NHS contracts.

Desirable

Knowledge and experience of working with Local Authority contracts

Additional Requirements

Essential

Evidence of significant personal development, professionally and managerially. Commitment to improve skills and ability to support new areas of work. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and ensure a stakeholder focused response. Independently mobile in order to be able to work across a number of sites and travel to meet stakeholders. Ability to concentrate frequently to interpret information and analyse data. Ability to manage meetings where members may have conflicting points of view. Able to present self-confidently and effectively. Ability to establish effective working relationships within a short period.

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