Commissioning Assistant

Commissioning Assistant

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,081 up to £27,653 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Please note that this position is being offered as a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment for a period of 18 months. It will require occasional working to 6pm on Fridays.

The Opportunity

This role plays a very important part within Strategic Commissioning and Policy across Children, family's portfolios and the wider Essex County Council structures to the Council's approach to outcome focused and evidence- based commissioning. The programme of work is structured primarily around the commissioning and delivery of the Short Breaks registrations and bookings for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.

As a Commissioning Assistant you will support the broad range of commissioning activity that ensures robust strategic planning and commissioning arrangements for the Children and Families Strategic Commissioning team.

The role will be critical to ensuring the coordination of, facilitation of, and participation in, activity that is led by Commissioning Managers and Heads of Commissioning. These include needs analysis to identify market development requirements, coproduction and codesign, analysing what works, designing solutions, and monitoring impact. Knowledge of the commissioning cycle, the ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally and the ability to combine problem-solving, innovation and resourcefulness are key to this role.

Accountabilities

• Provide day-to-day support as part of a matrix managed team for specific pieces of activity - both planned and reactive; which include, writing and presenting reports, reporting on information required to support the commissioning process, preparing governance reports and coordinating activities to deliver specific projects, organising engagement events as well as corporate administrative duties such as processing orders and financial transactions on behalf of the team.
• Support Heads of Commissioning and managers with the planning and specification of projects and their development, as well as project monitoring activity to ensure they are delivered to a high standard.
• Build and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally to the organisation. Work in collaboration with families and partners (for example with, but not limited to, providers of services, schools, social care teams, and District/Borough/City Councils.
• Respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities ensuring that risks and opportunities are identified and managed and comply with all external and internal regulation; support responses to calls for contributions to consultation responses.
• Deliver specific projects and activities that further the continuous improvement of high performing, sustainable and cost-effective services and develop cross functional links.
• Work as part of the Children, Families and Adults Strategic Commissioning and Policy teams to support a flexible and agile approach to sourcing and resourcing.
• Work with a range of Heads of Commissioning and managers, where necessary, from across ECC and with partners and stakeholders, including families to deliver the best value for money and sustainable outcomes.
• Support the development of, and use, a range of tools and techniques that ensure activity is consistent, effective and efficient and that an audit trail is maintained.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives defined annually with the team.

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential:

• Educated to L3 NVQ or equivalent by experience, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience of all aspects of the commissioning cycle, or of coordinating services for children with SEND
• Previous experience of engaging, collaborating with and developing projects and programmes with families, service practitioners, providers and partners
• Experience of managing or delivering commissioning projects and activities.
• Excellent communication, influencing and networking skills
• Strong report writing skills, including the ability to present summary information in a clear and concise format. Evidence of working in fast paced changing environments.

Desirable:

• Understanding of Social Care and some subject matter expertise of children and families.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional areas

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email #####

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.

Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours