Contracts, Commissioning and Placements Officer

• Pay Rate: £17.79 - £19.20 per hour PAYE
• Location: Bury Council
• Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (9 months)

Bury Council are looking for a Contract's, Commissioning and Placement Officer to join their Children's Commissioning Team. This role is crucial in finding and securing foster care, residential, and supported accommodation placements for children and young people in need. You will be instrumental in ensuring these placements offer high quality care and represent the best value for money.

• Monitor the Children’s Commissioning Team email inbox, responding to queries and prioritising urgent issues.
• Act as the first point of contact for emergency placement situations, ensuring timely and suitable arrangements.
• Source and support the provision of placements and services through provider contractual arrangements, ensuring they meet the children's needs and are cost-effective.
• Maintain contact details for off-contract providers and carry out due diligence checks.
• Review and quality assure referral forms from social workers, ensuring compliance with data regulations.
• Provide advice on the referral processes and financial agreements necessary before commissioning services.
• Coordinate the requirements of commissioned placements, including organising secure transport and liaising with providers and social care staff.
• Assist in planning, commissioning, and de-commissioning care placements, managing financial impacts and negotiating terms with providers.
• Produce detailed monthly budget reports and manage placement contract finances, ensuring compliance with financial protocols.

• Experience in a similar role within children's services or social care.
• Strong understanding of the commissioning process and contractual arrangements.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and in emergency situations.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• You may need to source packages of care within home or the community
• Working from draft contracts, so you would not have to create them yourself
• Proficient in managing data and financial records.
• Knowledge of relevant software and systems, such as Salesforce.
• There may be the possibility of Hybrid working in the future, to be discussed with the manager
• Strong Administration skills