This is an excellent opportunity to join a busy commissioning team where you will play a key role in negotiating placement costs, managing provider relationships and ensuring best value across children's social care services.
The Role
You will work closely with internal stakeholders and external providers to secure high-quality, cost-effective placements for children and young people while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, contractual requirements and best practice.
Key Responsibilities
* Negotiate placement costs with providers, using Care Cubed or similar fair cost of care tools.
* Manage provider relationships across the children's social care market.
* Work across Children's Residential, Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) and Supported Accommodation providers.
* Analyse provider costs, assess value for money and support commercial decision-making.
* Manage placement negotiations while balancing quality, outcomes and budget.
* Understand provider social care delivery models and associated financial risks.
* Ensure placements comply with relevant regulations, commissioning frameworks and care planning requirements.
* Work collaboratively with commissioning, placements and operational social care teams.
Essential Experience
* Experience negotiating placement costs using Care Cubed or a similar pricing model.
* Strong knowledge of the children's placements market.
* Experience working with Residential Care, IFAs and Supported Accommodation providers.
* Understanding of provider financial models, cost analysis and risk management.
* Experience within placement, commissioning or contracts functions in Children's Social Care.
* Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management and communication skills
Salary description
£200.00 - £225.00 per day