The post is in Care and Support Commissioning. Ordinarily this post would report directly to the Head of Service for Disabilities and Health Commissioning. However, the reporting line for this role will be varied - reporting jointly into the Head of Children's Commissioning and the Director of Care and Support Commissioning. The role will work closely alongside another highly experience interim that is already in place.

The current Management Team is comprised of:

• 3x Heads of Commissioning (Adults, Children's, and Disabilities).
• 1x Head of Performance and Intelligence (spanning Adults, Children's, Public Health, Community Safety and Early Help).
• 1x Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance.
• 1x Head of Early Help and Intervention.

Service Composition

The Health and Disabilities Commissioning Unit is a small unit that comprises:

• 1x Head of Service (Health and Disabilities)
• 1x Lead Commissioning (Disabilities)
• 1x Strategic Commissioner (Health and Public Health)
• 1x Commissioning Manager (Substance Misuse)

The Health and Disabilities Commissioning Unit is a small team that works closely alongside two other small commissioning units (Adults and Children's) to form the core of our care and support commissioning capacity. It is fair to say that the teams are all stretched at the present time.

There are a range of increasing - and competing - pressures being placed upon our commissioning function. They are increasingly being asked to focus more of their time on cost containment and reduction, at a time when commissioning burdens - especially in market management - are increasing. This is operating against the backdrop of expecting a SEND Area Inspection imminently, as well as a CQC Inspection at some point.

In preparation for these inspections a series of peer reviews have been conducted over recent months - as well as internal self-evaluations - and these have highlighted several areas of rapid improvement that are required. Of note are the need to develop a new, robust joint commissioning strategy for SEND as well as overhaul our Short Breaks offer at pace. There are also several crucial, large-scale procurements planned or underway - not least of which is the recommissioning of our 0-19 HCP service, our Supported Living Framework and our Substance Misuse programme offer.

If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.