• Flexible working available, using a hybrid model - working from home and your contracted work base
• 30 days annual leave
• Rewarding opportunity to design services and improve the lives of children in care and those leaving care
• Be part of a supportive, innovative and award winning team
• We are building a culture where amazing people like you can do their best work  

We are offering a role within the Children’s Commissioning Team to work as a Senior Commissioning Officer supporting our children in care and care leavers. Leading on initiatives to ensure we have the right homes which are nurturing and caring places for children to grow up in.

If you are passionate and have a background in commissioning for people services then we would love to meet you.

We’re working to improve the lives of children in care in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Implementing and leading on strategies to ensure we have sufficient homes for children in care and care leavers
• Learning all aspects of commissioning and project management
• Working closely with both our in-house services and external providers who we commission to deliver homes for children and young people.
• Leading and developing a small team of Commissioners who work across fostering, residential and supported accommodation sectors.

We offer ongoing support, training, and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Can work in a complex challenging environment with competing priorities
• Are highly organised and resilient
• Are a good problem solver
• A good negotiator and influencer
• Have an understanding of the social care provider markets
• Have well developed verbal and communication skills
• Have experience of leading and coaching a team
• A background in children’s services would be advantageous

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

The salary for the role is grade 9, ranging from £39,186 - £43,421 per annum.

You will be based in Taunton with a requirement to travel countywide.

We would encourage all interested applicants to have an informal discussion about this post with Julie Breeze, Strategic Commissioner, on 07919 540517 or Julie.breeze@somerset.gov.uk.

Interviews are scheduled for 30/05/24, however, we may hold interviews ahead of the closing date for suitable candidates.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you!

We are a hugely ambitious council, committed to improving lives for the residents, communities, and businesses of Somerset.

And that’s why we’re working so hard to build a sustainable organisation with a culture that rewards, values and recognises our staff, and gives everyone here the opportunity to grow and develop, personally and professionally.

This role requires a Basic Criminal background check via the Disclosure Procedure.