Head of Commissioning, Market Management and Customer Services - REQ005796

INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Head of Service – Commissioning, Market Management and Customer Services

Salary: Dir 60% £79,939 - £87,722

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, Leeds

As our new Head of Service Commissioning, Market Management and Customer Services, you will lead a key function in the Children and Families Directorate seeking to strengthen our approach to commissioning activity across both Social Care and Learning. The role also leads on our approach to Customer Services and complaints.

The role has reach across the entire Directorate and provides a real opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of children, young people and families across the City.

The role is at the centre of a number of workstreams and activity that are vital to the Directorate and the Council including:

Helping securing the best mix of residential provision for CLA
Setting a clear sufficiency direction for both CLA and children with SEND
Managing the challenges of cost and quality in provision
Working collaboratively with our Adults and Health Directorate to ensure that we have the best possible preparation for adulthood for CLA
Joint working with a range of Health agencies

You’ll be ambitious for our Leeds children, ensuring they get the right support and that the council’s statutory and moral responsibilities are met.

We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence. Our children’s services have been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and we are committed to maintaining this high standard.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

Educated to degree level or higher.
Significant experience of working in commissioning, preferably within a Children and Families context.
Excellent collaboration and communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility with stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally.
Innovation, drive and a clear passion for improving the lives of the city’s most vulnerable young people.
Experience of successful leadership and management of complex projects.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

For more information or to arrange a discussion about the role, please contact Phil Evans Deputy Director Resources and Transformation/Interim Deputy Director Learning at phil.evans@leeds.gov.uk

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job description

Job purpose Provide strategic leadership and management to the Children and Family’s directorate commissioning activity in support of the Leeds Children and Young people’s plan, and lead on the improvement of outcomes and maximise resources through closer service alignment with health, third sector and other city and regional partners.

Responsibilities

Contribute, as a member of the service Leadership Team representing the directorate leadership team at health-related partnerships and boards with the aim of ensuring that system partners respond effective to the needs of children and young people.
On behalf of the Chief Officer Strategy and Resources and Children’s Leadership Team more broadly to represent the interests of the directorate with a broad range of internal and external partners.
Work in partnership with the Head of Service, Children Looked After and Head of Service-Learning Inclusion to develop and maintain the directorate sufficiency plan.
Lead manage, develop and effectively deploy the capacity of the Children and Families Commissioning and Market Management Team.
Respond to business need and lead on all areas of commissioning activity including but not limited to external placements, regional commissioning, SEND, learning inclusion, early help, youth work, customer relations, SENDIASS and health.
Manage and develop directorate engagement with key health and third sector partners.
Assist the Chief Officer in leading and developing the provision of a high quality and effective programme of commissioning, partnership management and health integration.
Lead on the strategic and operational management of a broad programme of commissioning and transformational change activity to respond to identified needs and deliver the ambitions of the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan.
Lead and develop service teams to deliver complex change programmes and manage a range of competing priorities in challenging timescales.
Support the directorate to meet its ambition for closer service alignment with the NHS to improve outcomes, respond to need and make better use of system resources.
Support the directorate to develop closer working partnerships both internally in Leeds City Council and externally with key partners particularly from the voluntary sector and the NHS.
Develop governance and contractual arrangements to enable joint decision-making and to share resources effectively between partners for both internal and externally delivered services.
Support the Directorate to meet its statutory obligations, particularly in relation to the commissioning of placements for children looked after and commissioning of services which meet the needs of children with SEND or those with an Education Health and Care Plan.
Support the Children and Families directorate to fulfil its commercial requirements, ensuring that it is compliant national Public Contract Regulations and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in relation to the awarding of contracts and payments to external providers of children’s services.
Ensure that we listen to the voice of children and involve children, young people, parents, and other key individuals and that decisions about service delivery makes best use of data and respond effectively and measurable to identified need.
Manage governance processes and support political engagement to ensure effective and timely communication of key messages and decision making relating to contracting, commissioning activity.
Oversee management of provider markets to respond to directorate sufficiency needs and to take the lead on quality assurance and contract management of external contracts.
Provide strategic leadership to the directorate’s engagement with the Third Sector recognising its role as both a commissioned provider but also its capacity to function as community anchor or strategic partner to deliver the objectives of the Leeds Children and Young People’s plan.
Lead service reviews and service transformation on behalf of the directorate for both internally and externally delivered service activity.
Oversee the development of a traded offer of commissioning activity which seeks to develop our directorate capacity.
Lead and support commissioning and procurement activity on behalf of our city and regional partners.
Provide system leadership within a health partnerships and third sector infrastructure context and develop programmes to achieve shared outcomes with system resources.
Develop needs assessments of identified population groups to inform decision making for commissioned and internal services.
Produce commissioning strategies, sufficiency plans and provider market management activity to respond to identified need.
Develop service design, specifications and performance frameworks which accurately describe service requirements.
Procurement activity which is compliant with legislation and ensures that the directorate secures the best quality and price for commissioned services, contract management and quality assurance of commissioned services.
Apply research skills to identify local, regional, national, and international best practice and its utility in Leeds.
Deputise for the Chief Officer – Resources, Transformation and Partnership to represent the directorate corporately within Leeds City Council and within the wider partnership in Leeds and the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
Develop and drive a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count.’
Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.
Manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
Undertake financial and budgetary management of commissioned and other services, identify efficiencies and develop mechanisms for sharing resources between partners, in line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications

Educated to degree level with substantial senior leadership and management experience in a service or operational area relevant to commissioning with a commitment to continued development.

Working Context- Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to support the directorate to interpret and act on new legislation and policy change interpret and present complex data and information to inform decision making at a senior and partnership level.
Able to contribute, as a member of the service Leadership Team.
Able to provide system leadership within a health partnerships context develop programmes to achieve shared outcomes with system resources.
Able to lead, manage and provide strategic direction to a complex programme of commissioning activity on behalf of the Children and Families directorate including undertaking:
Development of needs assessments of identified population groups to inform decision making.
Production of commissioning strategies, sufficiency plans and provider market management activity to respond to identified need.
Development of service design, specifications and performance frameworks which accurately describe service requirements.
Procurement activity which is compliant with legislation and ensures that the directorate secures the best quality and price for commissioned services.
Contract management and quality assurance of commissioned services.
Build strong and dynamic relationships, networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies.
Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count.
Able to apply principles of Outcome Based Accountability (OBA) and Left Shift through commissioning activity which seeks to intervene early to prevent the escalation of need and reduce the need for more costly interventions for children and families.
Able to lead and develop service teams to deliver complex change programmes and manage a range of competing priorities in challenging timescales.
Able to provide commercial advice to senior colleagues regarding the commissioning of services, ensuring that the directorate complies with national and corporate procurement rules.
Strong IDS skills and ability to interpret and present complex data and information to inform decision making at a senior and partnership level.
Able to deliver sensitive and complex messages in a constructive way, presenting information with honesty and clarity through both in person and through virtual methods.
Able to provide appropriate briefings both written and verbal to a range of audiences including Elected Members, senior managers and multi-agency boards and partnerships.
Able to apply research skills to identify local, regional, national and international best practice and its utility in Leeds.
Able to delegate effectively on behalf of the Chief Officer - Resources, Transformation and Partnerships and Children and Families Leadership Team more broadly to represent the interests of the directorate with a broad range of internal and external partners.
Significant knowledge of commissioning practices covering all parts of the commissioning cycle.
Able to support the directorate to interpret and act on new legislation and policy change.
Demonstrate ability to manage budgets effectively, to identify efficiencies where required and to develop mechanisms for sharing resources between partners to jointly respond to identified needs.
Demonstrate knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information applicable to relevant strategic functions e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection. Promoting compliance with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and members of the Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence.
Detailed understanding of commissioning in supporting local authorities to make placements and meet the statutory requirements for children looked after and those with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Detailed knowledge of policy and legislation related to procurement and commercial activity including national Public Contract Regulations (PCRs), and LCC Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs)
Detailed knowledge of policy context and statutory legislation for local authorities related to the provision of services for Children and Families.
Knowledge of restorative practice approaches and the principles of Think Family within the context of services to children, young people and families.
Knowledge of the NHS, Adult Social Care, Third Sector and other partners’ roles in meeting the identified needs of child and families as part of a Think Family approach.
Knowledge of demography and geography of the city of Leeds as well as partnership structures in place to respond to city and locality priorities.
Substantial senior leadership and management experience in a service or operational area relevant to commissioning.
Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective workforce solutions.
Experience of work with senior management to shape and influence delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

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