Commercial and Quality Support Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

About the Team

B&NES Council has recently launched our new Strategic Commissioning Hub, which is a strategic initiative aimed at improving efficiency, standardising commissioning processes, and enhancing service delivery for the residents of B&NES.

The Strategic Commissioning Hub will bring together the commissioning, contract management, quality assurance and market oversight functions of Childrens Services, Adult Services and Public Health into one integrated team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contract Management: Support the Commercial and Quality Support Manager to manage contracts related to children's placements, ensuring compliance with all contractual and legal obligations.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct quality assurance work, which will also include visits to placement providers to ensure standards are met and maintained.
• Collaboration: Work closely with providers and children's social care teams to stabilise placements and address any issues that may arise.
• Fee Negotiation: Negotiate fees with providers to ensure cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality care.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify areas for enhancement and implement best practices across placements.

This role will involve occasional site visits, so we also require someone who has a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

About You

B&NES Council is looking for someone who can develop and maintain professional and positive working relationships with providers whilst providing challenge where needed, has experience in managing quality or performance, and has a focus for the continuous development of how they work.

An in-depth knowledge of children’s social care and the children’s placements market, including fostering, residential and supported accommodation is desirable but not essential.

You will have.

• Advanced knowledge and/ or experience of commissioning, contract work and quality assurance.
• Experience of conducting quality assurance visits and writing reports.
• Understanding of frameworks, contracts, and contractual compliance.
• Understanding of any legislative changes that could impact on the way in which commissioned contracts are developed and monitored, especially within the social care service area.
• Experience of partnership working and developing services with partners.
• Experience of conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Excellent communication skills in all forms with the ability to influence, use empathy to understand complex situations, and to advise others.
• Excellent IT skills.

We require someone who can speak English fluently and will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.

We welcome people with lived experience or on secondment from the third sector organisation.

If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Alex Hughes, Commercial and Quality Support Manager, by email at Commissioning@bathnes.gov.uk or by telephone on 01225 477917.

Interview date: 30th and 31st July 2025.

Why Bath & North East Somerset Council?

We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need. Go to https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-benefits

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve peoples live. Find out more about our values at https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-values

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. Find out more on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/equality-and-diversity

We are a Disability Confident Employer – find out more at https://shorturl.at/ajrsW

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Safeguarding Statement: The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Please see role profile for more info on council jobs site.

Desirable

• Please see role profile for more info on council jobs site.

Experience

Essential

• Please see role profile for more info on council jobs site.

Desirable

• Please see role profile for more info on council jobs site.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Bath & North East Somerset Council

Address

Civic Centre, Keynsham

Keynsham

Bath and North East Somerset

BS31 1FS

Employer's website

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)