Children’s Services is seeking a dynamic professional with extensive experience in operating within robust contractual arrangements to oversee its SEND Placement Commissioning.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced SEND Placement Commissiong Manager.  This role will take an operational lead in commissioning placements and services for all children and young people with disabilities or special educational needs.  They will be responsible for ensuring the effective commissioning of high-quality services is undertaken in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including children and young people and market providers.

The post holder will develop, shape and deliver an overarching programme to meet the needs of children and young people and ensure that the Local Authority has access to sufficient and suitable high-quality placements. They will promote an appropriate culture, empowering others and demonstrating high practice standards, ensuring that quality assurance and contract monitoring are effective, and that commissioning activity delivers good value for money.

Key Responsibilities:

• To work with Business Intelligence and Procurement colleagues to deliver sufficient and appropriate numbers of local SEND places to meet demand
• To look at creative solutions to ensure that as many children as possible are the supported with placements within North Somerset
• To work in partnership with delivery managers to deliver the organisational vision and outcomes through integrated planning and the flexible use of resources.
• To secure best value from all SEND placements in independent and out of district provision, through contract management and monitoring performance of placements.
• To deliver to strategies to ensure that pupil placement needs are met within the district working in partnership with colleagues in Education, Health and Social Care. This will include strategies to reduce the number and costs of pupils placed out of the area and placed in independent settings.
• To develop strong relationships with parent cares and other partners in achieving best use of resources.
• Ensure the Council’s aims and objectives, vision and core values are actively promoted and made a reality.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about SEND commissioning and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to degree level or with relevant equivalent professional development in service such as commissioning or procurement management
• Hold a thorough understanding of the legislative framework and statutory guidance which underpins the provision of education, early years and children’s services and a good understanding of emerging strategy and policy developments
• Experience of working in a contracts and commissioning function within a local government setting or an ability to adapt approaches used in other sectors to a local government setting and being responsible for leading the commissioning process from end to end through initial scoping to evaluation of contract performance
• Experience of engaging a wide range of stakeholders to agree priorities, advise and agree the scope of commissioning in conjunction with the Head of SEND and Head of Pupil Place Planning
• Strong child-centred and outcomes driven approach to all commissioning activity
• Strong skills in partnering and the ability to influence positive change through effective partnership
• Ability to work effectively in a local government context (legal, financial, political).

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Finley Kidd, SEND Commissioning Manager  on 01934 426839 or  Sally Varley, Head of Strategic Place Planning& Capital Programmes  on 07917 587280.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Friday 09 May 2025

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated.  We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave.  We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.