Job summary
At NHS Somerset, were committed to improving health
outcomes for our community. As part of our team, youll play a pivotal role in enabling
system-wide change and delivering transformative health solutions. We offer a
supportive, inclusive environment where your expertise will help shape the
future of healthcare in Somerset.
The Finance, Performance and Contracting Directorate
at NHS Somerset is seeking to recruit a Head of Contracting. The post holder will be part of the
directorate senior leadership team and lead a contracting team that manages a
diverse range of agreements and acts as a key link between the Integrated Care
Board (ICB) and the relevant provider organisation.
The post is designed to manage Somerset Integrated Care
Board (ICB) contracting processes ensuring they are consistent with national
policy and local needs and are integrated into the wider commissioning and
service development strategies.
The contracting team help support wider system change to
meet the health needs of the Somerset population, ensuring we use our contracts
and the relationships as enablers to deliver our medium to long term priorities
and drive forward service improvements and innovation for the benefit of the
population.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Contracting, you will:
- Lead
and Inspire: Manage Somerset Integrated Care Boards (ICB) contracting
processes, ensuring they align with national policies and local needs while
supporting wider commissioning and service development strategies.
- Drive
System Change: Use contracts and relationships to enable long-term priorities,
service improvements, and innovative solutions that benefit the Somerset
population.
- Shape
Strategy: Develop and implement the ICBs Contracting Strategy to deliver
high-quality, value-for-money services while meeting legislative requirements
like the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
- Collaborate
for Success: Work closely with commissioning teams, clinical leads, and the NHS
South Central and West Procurement Team to align contracting and procurement
strategies with commissioning priorities and ensure seamless implementation of
new services.
If youre passionate about making a
real impact and have the skills and experience to lead in this critical area,
we want to hear from you!
Apply now and become a key player
in driving forward Somerset's healthcare vision.
About us
NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for
implementing a health and care strategy developed by the Integrated Care
Partnership. It consists of approximately 350 staff across 8 directorates, each
with multiple teams.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including
underrepresented groups, and are committed to equality of opportunity. We
believe diverse organisations best reflect the communities they serve.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if
sufficient applications are received before the advertised closing date.
Visa
sponsorship is not offered.
Flexible working is available from day one, including an
agile home/office-based approach. However, you will be required to work from
our HQ in Yeovil for 23 days a week, and travel to other Somerset locations
for meetings may be necessary. Please consider this before applying.
Note for existing NHS Employees applying for Fixed Term
vacancies at NHS Somerset
If you are an existing NHS Employee and are applying for a
Fixed Term role with NHS Somerset, the role will be offered on a secondment
basis only.
You should gain agreement from your current employer before
applying to allow you to be released on secondment.
Please ensure the reference section confirms your current HR
Department details.
Thank you for your interest
Job description
Job responsibilities
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
This post is designed to manage Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB)
contracting processes ensuring they are consistent with national policy and
local needs and are integrated into the wider commissioning and service
development strategies.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE ROLE:
To lead on the
Contracting Strategy for the organisation in order to enable it to deliver its
commissioning intentions.
Continually ensure the ICBs
procurement and contract management processes are robust and are in line with
legislative requirements. This would
include but not be limited to Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the implementation
of the Procurement Act 2023 and application of the Provider Selection Regime
2023.
Contribute to the effective multi-disciplinary
working by ensuring that there are excellent working relationships with other
members of the multidisciplinary team including Finance, IM&T, Governance
and Quality.
To provide contracting leadership
to enable Somerset ICB to achieve its strategic objective of commissioning high
quality and value for money services, including supporting compliance across
the organisation of the contract management database.
To monitor and create
reports from the contract management database to deliver further opportunities
across the organisation and the south west.
To work closely with
commissioning workstreams and clinical leads to ensure commissioning and
contracting priorities are aligned
To work closely with the
NHS SCW Procurement Team. To include the
timely introduction to commissioning workstreams to work through option
appraisals on procurement routes on new services and contracts expiring.
To work with other ICBs,
NHS England, Commissioning Support service and local authority commissioners as
well as with provider partners and external agencies to support delivering
Somerset ICB strategic objectives and plans. This will involve effective communication
and engagement with patients, stakeholders, providers and partners
To identify and
implement as agreed the commissioning intentions and priorities through our
contracting strategy, in conjunction with commissioning workstreams, clinical
leads and national/regional strategy
To work alongside the
clinical leadership of the ICB, to contribute to transformational change in the
way services are delivered in Somerset, enhancing sustainability, integration
and patient experience by focusing on outcomes and service redesign by
providers
To work alongside the
clinical leadership of the ICB, to build consensus and support for shared
priorities across the directorates of the ICBs and ensure that all work programmes are aligned.
To lead the Contracting
Team, experience in managing staff and Human Resources issues such as
appraisals, CPD, resolving conflict, absence / sickness and identifying
training needs of staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
This post is designed to manage Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB)
contracting processes ensuring they are consistent with national policy and
local needs and are integrated into the wider commissioning and service
development strategies.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE ROLE:
To lead on the
Contracting Strategy for the organisation in order to enable it to deliver its
commissioning intentions.
Continually ensure the ICBs
procurement and contract management processes are robust and are in line with
legislative requirements. This would
include but not be limited to Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the implementation
of the Procurement Act 2023 and application of the Provider Selection Regime
2023.
Contribute to the effective multi-disciplinary
working by ensuring that there are excellent working relationships with other
members of the multidisciplinary team including Finance, IM&T, Governance
and Quality.
To provide contracting leadership
to enable Somerset ICB to achieve its strategic objective of commissioning high
quality and value for money services, including supporting compliance across
the organisation of the contract management database.
To monitor and create
reports from the contract management database to deliver further opportunities
across the organisation and the south west.
To work closely with
commissioning workstreams and clinical leads to ensure commissioning and
contracting priorities are aligned
To work closely with the
NHS SCW Procurement Team. To include the
timely introduction to commissioning workstreams to work through option
appraisals on procurement routes on new services and contracts expiring.
To work with other ICBs,
NHS England, Commissioning Support service and local authority commissioners as
well as with provider partners and external agencies to support delivering
Somerset ICB strategic objectives and plans. This will involve effective communication
and engagement with patients, stakeholders, providers and partners
To identify and
implement as agreed the commissioning intentions and priorities through our
contracting strategy, in conjunction with commissioning workstreams, clinical
leads and national/regional strategy
To work alongside the
clinical leadership of the ICB, to contribute to transformational change in the
way services are delivered in Somerset, enhancing sustainability, integration
and patient experience by focusing on outcomes and service redesign by
providers
To work alongside the
clinical leadership of the ICB, to build consensus and support for shared
priorities across the directorates of the ICBs and ensure that all work programmes are aligned.
To lead the Contracting
Team, experience in managing staff and Human Resources issues such as
appraisals, CPD, resolving conflict, absence / sickness and identifying
training needs of staff
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development.
- Further training or significant experience in contract management, or project management supporting change management processes
- Essential further training or significant experience in:
- Pathway design
- Change management
- Negotiation and influencing skills
- Communication skills, including active listening
- Changes to the procurement legislation
Desirable
- Desirable further training or significant experience in:
- Leadership development and mentoring
- Report writing
- Presentation skills
- Information and governance principles
- Equality and diversity
- Service improvement tools and methodologies
- Patient safety and quality improvement
Experience
Essential
- Experience of interpretation of national policy and implementation
- Experience of contract and performance management including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023) and the application of the Provider Selection Regime 2023. Senior management experience within NHS or Local Authority
- Evidence of leadership of change management within and across organisations
- Evidence of planning and delivering programmes, projects and services on time using established project management techniques
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery
- Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes and achieving financial targets
- Have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
- Experience of developing and implementing QIPP proposals
Communication
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders/customers on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups/customers, requiring highly developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills
- Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders/customers in often pressured and politically sensitive environments
- Good skills for negotiating and influencing people with strongly opposing views
- Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to form constructive, credible strategic and operational relationships with a range of health and social care professionals at all levels through high professional credibility
- Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
- To initiate and develop highly effective relationships, and establish professional credibility, in terms of strategic commissioning skills and knowledge, particularity in contentious situations
- Understand and abide by the requirement for confidentiality & adhere to total confidentiality at all time
- To work with stakeholders and customers to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market.
Personal Statement / Motivation for Applying
Essential
- Please use this section to explain how you meet the additional criteria in the Personal Specification including your reasons and motivation for applying.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development.
- Further training or significant experience in contract management, or project management supporting change management processes
- Essential further training or significant experience in:
- Pathway design
- Change management
- Negotiation and influencing skills
- Communication skills, including active listening
- Changes to the procurement legislation
Desirable
- Desirable further training or significant experience in:
- Leadership development and mentoring
- Report writing
- Presentation skills
- Information and governance principles
- Equality and diversity
- Service improvement tools and methodologies
- Patient safety and quality improvement
Experience
Essential
- Experience of interpretation of national policy and implementation
- Experience of contract and performance management including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023) and the application of the Provider Selection Regime 2023. Senior management experience within NHS or Local Authority
- Evidence of leadership of change management within and across organisations
- Evidence of planning and delivering programmes, projects and services on time using established project management techniques
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery
- Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes and achieving financial targets
- Have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
- Experience of developing and implementing QIPP proposals
Communication
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders/customers on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups/customers, requiring highly developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills
- Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders/customers in often pressured and politically sensitive environments
- Good skills for negotiating and influencing people with strongly opposing views
- Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to form constructive, credible strategic and operational relationships with a range of health and social care professionals at all levels through high professional credibility
- Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
- To initiate and develop highly effective relationships, and establish professional credibility, in terms of strategic commissioning skills and knowledge, particularity in contentious situations
- Understand and abide by the requirement for confidentiality & adhere to total confidentiality at all time
- To work with stakeholders and customers to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market.
Personal Statement / Motivation for Applying
Essential
- Please use this section to explain how you meet the additional criteria in the Personal Specification including your reasons and motivation for applying.
