Job summary
Contracts Officer (33 hours per week)
The Acute & Community Contracts team at NHS Somerset is
seeking to recruit a Band 6 Contracts Officer.
The post holder will be part of a small, friendly and supportive 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 team prides itself on its ability to maintain and
develop close and constructive working relationships with ICB colleagues and our
provider organisations, including during the current times of challenge. We also help support wider system change,
using our contracts and the relationships as enablers to delivery against
medium to long term priorities and driving forward service improvements and
innovation to meet the health needs of the Somerset population.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be the key
point of contact for a number of agreements and associated projects. The portfolio covers a spectrum of services including mental health, dementia
care, respiratory & termination of pregnancy and involves working with providers across the
NHS, independent and voluntary sectors.
Part of the role involves supporting the Contract Manager particularly
with the governance processes associated with new procurement legislation and will
also provide support on the implementation of Atamis, a new software system. This will be rolled out within the ICB over
the next few months.
We are looking
for somebody with confidence, sufficient experience and knowledge of NHS
agreements. An ability to communicate with a diverse range of individuals, excellent organisational skills and a
sound, working knowledge of MS office packages will also be required.
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 traveling 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 contributes to the management of a portfolio of contracts and associated projects that meet the health needs of the people of Somerset.
As a member of the contracting team, this post supports broader system change and delivery of key priorities over the medium to long term. The contracts and the work undertaken by the post holder and wider team act as enablers to drive forward service improvements and innovation and at the same time create a key link between the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the relevant provider organisations that form part of the portfolio of contracts.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE ROLE:
- To work with commissioning workstreams and other agencies to support the development and commissioning of care provided in the most suitable setting for the patient
- To ensure quality, access and achievement of national targets and value for money in all commissioning arrangements
- To support the management of contracts within the financial resources agreed through the annual planning process
- To contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic plans and business objectives of the ICB
- To support the implementation of commissioning arrangements that will secure the delivery of agreed outcomes within the agreed financial resources
- To support the implementation of contracting arrangements that will secure the delivery of key national and ICB priorities
- To support the development and implementation of agreed programmes
Contracting
- To undertake a range of tasks to support the Contracts Team including contract management, drafting contract documentation, organising meetings, taking minutes, analysing and interpreting performance data.
- To undertake tasks as delegated by the Head of Contracts which may include:
- Co-ordinating work programmes
- Organising papers
- Co-ordinating first drafts of briefings, reports, papers, contracts and correspondence
- Dealing with general enquiries relating to the contract portfolio, including Freedom of Information requests
- Providing specific project support to projects and processes, including those associated with changes to the procurement rules
- Provide support for the NHS rollout of Atamis as a database and management tool
- To be the lead contact for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in the management of specified group of contracts within the portfolio, which may change over time to meet the needs of the ICB
- To provide input through the procurement process for services that fall within the contract portfolio
- To lead specific work areas relating to the portfolio of responsibilities
- To liaise directly with providers to ensure contract requirements are fulfilled
- To ensure compliance with the ICBs Standing Financial and waiver process associated with the contracts within the portfolio.
Quality Improvement
- To provide support to the Contract Team enabling them to work effectively with provider organisations to deliver improvements in services and operational standards
- To support the Contract Team in undertaking relevant research including benchmarking and review of evidence base
Patient and Carer Experience
- To work closely with ICB colleagues to ensure quality and patient outcomes are appropriately reflected in the commissioning plans and work programmes for the provider
- To ensure delivery by the provider of patient participation and engagement in development and commissioning, where appropriate, to improve the patient pathway.
Policy Implementation and Delivery
- To support the implementation of clear monitoring and performance management processes for all contracts
- To support the management of robust performance data systems
- To work closely with colleagues across the ICB to ensure a joined-up approach to improving services is in place
Collaborative Working
- Working with colleagues within the ICB and across the wider ICS to ensure integrated working in the interest of patients, service efficiencies, productivity and value for money.
- Working with out of area ICBs to support contract arrangements and address cross-border issues that impact on patient care, bringing in ICB colleagues as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
This post contributes to the management of a portfolio of contracts and associated projects that meet the health needs of the people of Somerset.
As a member of the contracting team, this post supports broader system change and delivery of key priorities over the medium to long term. The contracts and the work undertaken by the post holder and wider team act as enablers to drive forward service improvements and innovation and at the same time create a key link between the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the relevant provider organisations that form part of the portfolio of contracts.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE ROLE:
- To work with commissioning workstreams and other agencies to support the development and commissioning of care provided in the most suitable setting for the patient
- To ensure quality, access and achievement of national targets and value for money in all commissioning arrangements
- To support the management of contracts within the financial resources agreed through the annual planning process
- To contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic plans and business objectives of the ICB
- To support the implementation of commissioning arrangements that will secure the delivery of agreed outcomes within the agreed financial resources
- To support the implementation of contracting arrangements that will secure the delivery of key national and ICB priorities
- To support the development and implementation of agreed programmes
Contracting
- To undertake a range of tasks to support the Contracts Team including contract management, drafting contract documentation, organising meetings, taking minutes, analysing and interpreting performance data.
- To undertake tasks as delegated by the Head of Contracts which may include:
- Co-ordinating work programmes
- Organising papers
- Co-ordinating first drafts of briefings, reports, papers, contracts and correspondence
- Dealing with general enquiries relating to the contract portfolio, including Freedom of Information requests
- Providing specific project support to projects and processes, including those associated with changes to the procurement rules
- Provide support for the NHS rollout of Atamis as a database and management tool
- To be the lead contact for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in the management of specified group of contracts within the portfolio, which may change over time to meet the needs of the ICB
- To provide input through the procurement process for services that fall within the contract portfolio
- To lead specific work areas relating to the portfolio of responsibilities
- To liaise directly with providers to ensure contract requirements are fulfilled
- To ensure compliance with the ICBs Standing Financial and waiver process associated with the contracts within the portfolio.
Quality Improvement
- To provide support to the Contract Team enabling them to work effectively with provider organisations to deliver improvements in services and operational standards
- To support the Contract Team in undertaking relevant research including benchmarking and review of evidence base
Patient and Carer Experience
- To work closely with ICB colleagues to ensure quality and patient outcomes are appropriately reflected in the commissioning plans and work programmes for the provider
- To ensure delivery by the provider of patient participation and engagement in development and commissioning, where appropriate, to improve the patient pathway.
Policy Implementation and Delivery
- To support the implementation of clear monitoring and performance management processes for all contracts
- To support the management of robust performance data systems
- To work closely with colleagues across the ICB to ensure a joined-up approach to improving services is in place
Collaborative Working
- Working with colleagues within the ICB and across the wider ICS to ensure integrated working in the interest of patients, service efficiencies, productivity and value for money.
- Working with out of area ICBs to support contract arrangements and address cross-border issues that impact on patient care, bringing in ICB colleagues as appropriate.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience working in an NHS organisation
- Understanding of national policy relating to contract management
- Proven experience of capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Desirable
- Proven experience of working within a contract management environment
- Experience of developing, writing and implementing local contract documentation
- Experience of developing contracting across an organisation, by interpreting national policy for use at a local level, to ensure the organisation remains fully compliant
- Ability to understand and interpret national policy, clinical guidance and best practice in relation to service improvement or clinical engagement activities and appreciate the implications of this on commissioning services
- Understanding of the relationship between NHS England and provider and commissioning organisations
- Understanding of the strategic commissioning cycle
- Ability to problem solve and respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior management level, outlining key recommendations
- Experience of working across organisational and professional boundaries in complex organisations.
- Experience of working with senior level staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or significant equivalent previous proven experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Post-graduate degree in Management Studies or equivalent
- Prince 2 Project Management qualification or equivalent
Communication
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information and present it to senior managers
- Good skills for explaining, negotiating and influencing people to gain a consensus
- 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 issues including performance and change
- Understand and abide by the requirement for confidentiality & adhere to total confidentiality at all times
- Experience of working with MS Teams, or similar, for meetings
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
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience working in an NHS organisation
- Understanding of national policy relating to contract management
- Proven experience of capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Desirable
- Proven experience of working within a contract management environment
- Experience of developing, writing and implementing local contract documentation
- Experience of developing contracting across an organisation, by interpreting national policy for use at a local level, to ensure the organisation remains fully compliant
- Ability to understand and interpret national policy, clinical guidance and best practice in relation to service improvement or clinical engagement activities and appreciate the implications of this on commissioning services
- Understanding of the relationship between NHS England and provider and commissioning organisations
- Understanding of the strategic commissioning cycle
- Ability to problem solve and respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior management level, outlining key recommendations
- Experience of working across organisational and professional boundaries in complex organisations.
- Experience of working with senior level staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or significant equivalent previous proven experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Post-graduate degree in Management Studies or equivalent
- Prince 2 Project Management qualification or equivalent
Communication
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information and present it to senior managers
- Good skills for explaining, negotiating and influencing people to gain a consensus
- 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 issues including performance and change
- Understand and abide by the requirement for confidentiality & adhere to total confidentiality at all times
- Experience of working with MS Teams, or similar, for meetings
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.
