Commissioning Officer
Location - Hove Town Hall, BN3 3BR
Duration – 6 months Contract
Reports To: Head of Commissioning & Performance
Purpose of the Role
To ensure services for single homeless people and rough sleepers are person-centred, outcomes-focused, inclusive, deliver value for money, and promote a sustainable and diverse provider market.
The role focuses on:
- Commissioning accommodation and support services for single homeless people.
- Monitoring and improving service performance and transparency.
- Ensuring high-quality performance reporting and statutory compliance.
- Supporting the Council's objective of reducing and preventing rough sleeping.
Key Responsibilities
Commissioning & Contract Management
- Develop and deliver commissioning plans that support Housing and Homelessness priorities and contribute to reducing rough sleeping.
- Work with Housing, Adult Social Care, Health partners, CCGs, providers and other stakeholders to commission services based on assessed need and best practice.
- Lead the development of new services and markets, ensuring value for money and improved outcomes for service users.
- Manage and monitor commissioned contracts and identify opportunities to improve service delivery.
- Promote partnership working across Housing, Health, Social Care and the voluntary sector.
- Support the development of sustainable and diverse local service markets.
- Use evidence-based quality assurance processes to improve services and outcomes.
Performance & Governance
- Ensure performance frameworks and improvement plans support effective service delivery and commissioning.
- Monitor service performance and ensure compliance with national and local requirements.
- Complete statutory returns, surveys and performance reporting within required deadlines.
- Lead stakeholder consultation and engagement activities to support policy, strategy and service development.
- Analyse performance data, service user feedback and outcomes information to drive service improvement.
- Support strong Information Governance and compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
- Develop and monitor KPIs and performance measures.
- Produce reports for senior leadership, governance boards and elected members.
Quality Improvement
- Ensure providers maintain robust improvement plans and deliver agreed actions.
- Monitor quality standards across commissioned and in-house supported housing services.
- Lead cross-sector quality improvement initiatives involving providers, Health partners, Adult Social Care and regulatory bodies.
- Promote continuous improvement and best practice across services.
- Support safeguarding investigations, service complaints and improvement actions relating to vulnerable adults.
- Act as the key contact for Fire Safety service agreements and liaise with Corporate Health & Safety teams.
- Identify risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
Leadership & Management
- Line manage Commissioning Officers, Coordinators and project resources where required.
- Provide leadership, coaching and performance management to staff.
- Contribute to workforce development and professional learning.
- Support business continuity planning and respond to major incidents when required.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.
- Support the implementation of Housing Directorate plans and strategic objectives.
Health, Safety & Equality
- Ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and related regulations.
- Undertake risk assessments and promote safe working practices.
- Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in service delivery and staff management.
- Support the Council's Inclusive Council Policy.
Essential Knowledge
- Housing and Homelessness legislation, policy and best practice.
- Adult Social Care legislation and care pathways.
- Homelessness Reduction Act, Care Act and related frameworks.
- Commissioning, procurement and contract management.
- CQC regulations and quality monitoring frameworks.
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures.
- Information Governance and data management.
- Project management methodologies and tools.
- Public sector performance management and statutory reporting requirements.
Essential Experience
- Service commissioning within Housing, Social Care or Health settings.
- Contract and performance management.
- Service improvement and change management.
- Managing projects and delivering successful outcomes.
- Partnership working with statutory, independent and voluntary sector organisations.
- Housing support or homelessness services.
- Quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults.
- Staff leadership and line management.
- Developing strategies, action plans and performance frameworks.
Essential Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building abilities.
- Report writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to influence, negotiate and challenge effectively.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Budget awareness and financial understanding.
- Ability to interpret performance data and drive improvement.
- Risk management and decision-making skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines.
- Strong leadership and team management capability.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Rough Sleeping & Homelessness Services
- Housing Needs & Supported Housing
- Commissioning & Procurement
- Contract & Performance Management
- Adult Social Care
- Safeguarding
- Service Improvement & Quality Assurance
- Stakeholder Management
- Public Sector Governance
- Project & Change Management
- Information Governance
- Leadership & Staff Management