Job summary Please note: We know many use AI to enhance their applications. While AI brings efficiency, we value authenticity and urge applicants to reflect their true skills and experiences. NHS Dorset evaluates each application fairly, acknowledging AI's benefits and limitation. Are you looking for a new challenge and can you bring a different approach to commissioning? Are you a problem solver and curious to discover news approaches and new relationships? NHS Dorset is looking for an experienced and talented commissioner who can form good relationships and strong partnerships, with operational and senior colleagues, across the Dorset health and care system to develop community commissioning approaches. An opportunity has arisen to join the newly formed Primary and Community Integrated Care Team at a very exciting time, as health and care providers and the voluntary and community sector work together to develop population health approaches to outcome-based commissioning and care delivered at neighbourhood. In Dorset, we want everyone to live their best life. We can only do that by working together across the health and care system. You will provide strategic leadership in developing new ways of working, bringing together health and care providers of local services to plan, deliver and transform care. You will work with a range of partners and key stakeholders to lead the transformational change required to implement new ways of commissioning and models of care. Main duties of the job Taking a population health approach, you will develop and commission services in partnership with health and care partners/integrated neighbourhood teams and the local community with the aim of reducing health inequalities. You will lead strategic commissioning approaches to deliver improved outcomes supporting NHS Dorset delegated authority for General practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental services. You will develop key relationships with those within the Primary and Community Commissioning Team to develop and deliver Integrated Neighbourhood Teams. As a senior leader you will also support and line manager individuals; developing them to be the best that they can be. You will take a lead role in developing our newly established Primary and Community integrated care team. About us We are joining up to tackle all the things that affect our health and wellbeing, make real change, and improve things for our communities. Dorset ICS is made up of: NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board University Hospitals Dorset Foundation Trust Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust Dorset HealthCare University Foundation Trust Dorset Council Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council 194 town and parish councils 18 primary care networks (made up of 73 GP practices) Southwestern Ambulance Service Foundation Trust Dorset Police Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service 7,300 voluntary organisations What we do The Health and Care Bill puts ICSs on a statutory footing empowering them to better join up health and care services, improve population health, and reduce health inequalities. ICSs have four core purposes: Improve outcomes in population health and healthcare Tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access Enhance productivity and value for money Help the NHS support broader social and economic development Date posted 07 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number D9467-ICB-008-25 Job locations NHS Dorset - County Hall Colliton Park Dorchester Dorset DT1 1XJ NHS Dorset - Canford House Wallisdown Road Poole Dorset BH12 5AG Job description Job responsibilities JOB PURPOSE As part of the Primary and Community Integrated Care Team you will have a lead role in developing new ways of working and stronger partnerships across the Dorset health and care system and with local communities to develop community commissioning approaches. You will bring together providers of local services to plan, deliver and transform care focusing on population health and reducing health inequalities, providing strategic leadership. You will work with a range of partners and key stakeholders to lead the transformational change required to implement new models of care supporting Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and integrated community services via Integrated Neighbourhood Teams. In this role you will work proactively with health and social care partners to ensure that local communities receive the right care at the right time and as close to home as possible. This role involves matrix working within the Primary and Community Care Team and across the Medical Directorate and wider organisation on programmes and projects as required. As a Strategic Commissioner Manager, the role is responsible for the following: Undertaking a strategic management role for the commissioning of services, supporting implementation of the NHS Dorset ICB Commissioning Strategy, the NHS Long Term Plan, the GP Contract Reform guidance; planning and delivery of delegated services including Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry. Ensuring that commissioning plans are developed, maintained and delivered to support effective service redesign, contracting and performance management in partnership with ICB colleagues and through constructive relationship with providers at an integrated neighbourhood level. This includes: Working with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to implement the NHS Dorset Five Year Plan, new models of care and the NHS Long Term Plan; Providing support to INTs through developing clinical and management capacity to implement new models of care; Leading on the development of a portfolio of services and contracts relevant to your county-wide lead function; Working with the Primary and Community Integrated Care Team, ensuring best practice in respect of all commissioned services that support the provision of services for the population of Dorset in line with agreed priorities taking onboard local needs; Engaging with a range of providers and partners, including primary, community and secondary care, local authorities, the voluntary sector, the independent sector and Any Qualified Providers to ensure service provision is of a high quality and meets local needs and contract requirements; Lead and participate in whole systems service improvement programmes as required; Ensuring the appropriate engagement of local communities, carers and service users in development and review of services, clinical pathways and new models of care; In support of the Deputy Director/Head of Service to take the lead on specified areas of commissioning across Dorset; Lead quality and performance improvement across a designated function; Ensure that any allocated budget is managed in accordance with ICB standing financial instructions and governance rules; Ensure appropriate collaborative working across the Primary and Community Services team and across all geographies, including with Local Authorities. POST SPECIFIC, TASKS AND OBJECTIVES Commissioning and Service Redesign To work with Clinical Leads, Practices and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to develop and realise strategic goals; To work effectively within NHS Dorset ICB to fully inform the commissioning agenda in relation to the needs associated with population health service access and community integration, to identify need; benchmark activity against national and local provision; and advise on activity and commissioning requirements accordingly; To support the full development of effective service development programmes and commissioning activity to meet local health need and national and local guidelines and the commissioning cycle; To lead on the development of new service specifications ensuring alignment with NHS Dorset ICB priorities including working with information leads to ensure plans reflect national benchmarking; To input to the development of commissioning intentions for services and the commissioning process; To work collaboratively across the whole system leading change and promoting innovation as informed by the NHS Dorset ICBs commissioning intentions and commissioning process; Ensure function plans are consistent with NHS Dorset ICBs commissioning plans. Ensure that any allocated budget is managed in accordance with the ICBs standing financial instructions and governance rules; Governance In developing and implementing new clinical pathways and services, to ensure that all proposals are evidence based, clinically effective and value for money; To support the redesign of services ensuring robust clinically effective pathways that are clear and fit for scrutiny through the validation and consultation process; To develop patient evaluation and audit tools that will accompany all new service developments; To ensure that ICB budgets and delegated budgets and resources are managed appropriately in accordance with the ICB governance framework; To work closely with contracting and performance managers to ensure that performance metrics are developed across the ICB to inform all work programmes; To ensure agreed governance arrangements for the ICB are implemented in response to regulation and current guidance, both national and local. Building effective partnerships To develop strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders relevant to the portfolio, clinical and managerial leads within providers, NHS, Local Authority and partner colleagues, and other local ICBs to enable service change; To deploy high quality communication skills to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of developments and objectives, making use of a wide range of media and well developed persuasive, and negotiation skills where agreement or co-operation is difficult to obtain; To inspire and motivate INTs, stakeholders, which includes users, patients and their representatives, by articulating a clear vision for services in Dorset ICB; encouraging collaborative working to improve services where there may be resistance to change or divergent opinions on the direction of change; To ensure effective mechanisms for consultation with service users/patients, carers and advocates and ensure that users/patients and carers needs are appropriately reflected in commissioning and service plans. Leadership The post holder is required to recognise their role as a senior team member within the Primary and Community Integrated Team and ICB and act accordingly to drive and deliver the system vision and priorities. To create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday action ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality. In support of the Deputy Director/ Head of Elective Care, take the lead on specified areas of commissioning work across Dorset. To promote and support robust communication and engagement across the Dorset Integrated Care System (ICS). People Management Responsible for the day-to-day range of staff management, which will include responsibility for supporting appraisals, development of staff, recruitment and where necessary, processes such as grievance and disciplinary matters. Responsible for an individuals development on the job and job performance management. Work in conjunction with line managers and other job managers to assess and manage confidential information about an individual's performance and capability development. Please note we reserve the right to extend the closing date or close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible For further information, please see full Job Description attached. Job description Job responsibilities JOB PURPOSE As part of the Primary and Community Integrated Care Team you will have a lead role in developing new ways of working and stronger partnerships across the Dorset health and care system and with local communities to develop community commissioning approaches. You will bring together providers of local services to plan, deliver and transform care focusing on population health and reducing health inequalities, providing strategic leadership. You will work with a range of partners and key stakeholders to lead the transformational change required to implement new models of care supporting Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and integrated community services via Integrated Neighbourhood Teams. In this role you will work proactively with health and social care partners to ensure that local communities receive the right care at the right time and as close to home as possible. This role involves matrix working within the Primary and Community Care Team and across the Medical Directorate and wider organisation on programmes and projects as required. As a Strategic Commissioner Manager, the role is responsible for the following: Undertaking a strategic management role for the commissioning of services, supporting implementation of the NHS Dorset ICB Commissioning Strategy, the NHS Long Term Plan, the GP Contract Reform guidance; planning and delivery of delegated services including Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry. Ensuring that commissioning plans are developed, maintained and delivered to support effective service redesign, contracting and performance management in partnership with ICB colleagues and through constructive relationship with providers at an integrated neighbourhood level. This includes: Working with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to implement the NHS Dorset Five Year Plan, new models of care and the NHS Long Term Plan; Providing support to INTs through developing clinical and management capacity to implement new models of care; Leading on the development of a portfolio of services and contracts relevant to your county-wide lead function; Working with the Primary and Community Integrated Care Team, ensuring best practice in respect of all commissioned services that support the provision of services for the population of Dorset in line with agreed priorities taking onboard local needs; Engaging with a range of providers and partners, including primary, community and secondary care, local authorities, the voluntary sector, the independent sector and Any Qualified Providers to ensure service provision is of a high quality and meets local needs and contract requirements; Lead and participate in whole systems service improvement programmes as required; Ensuring the appropriate engagement of local communities, carers and service users in development and review of services, clinical pathways and new models of care; In support of the Deputy Director/Head of Service to take the lead on specified areas of commissioning across Dorset; Lead quality and performance improvement across a designated function; Ensure that any allocated budget is managed in accordance with ICB standing financial instructions and governance rules; Ensure appropriate collaborative working across the Primary and Community Services team and across all geographies, including with Local Authorities. POST SPECIFIC, TASKS AND OBJECTIVES Commissioning and Service Redesign To work with Clinical Leads, Practices and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to develop and realise strategic goals; To work effectively within NHS Dorset ICB to fully inform the commissioning agenda in relation to the needs associated with population health service access and community integration, to identify need; benchmark activity against national and local provision; and advise on activity and commissioning requirements accordingly; To support the full development of effective service development programmes and commissioning activity to meet local health need and national and local guidelines and the commissioning cycle; To lead on the development of new service specifications ensuring alignment with NHS Dorset ICB priorities including working with information leads to ensure plans reflect national benchmarking; To input to the development of commissioning intentions for services and the commissioning process; To work collaboratively across the whole system leading change and promoting innovation as informed by the NHS Dorset ICBs commissioning intentions and commissioning process; Ensure function plans are consistent with NHS Dorset ICBs commissioning plans. Ensure that any allocated budget is managed in accordance with the ICBs standing financial instructions and governance rules; Governance In developing and implementing new clinical pathways and services, to ensure that all proposals are evidence based, clinically effective and value for money; To support the redesign of services ensuring robust clinically effective pathways that are clear and fit for scrutiny through the validation and consultation process; To develop patient evaluation and audit tools that will accompany all new service developments; To ensure that ICB budgets and delegated budgets and resources are managed appropriately in accordance with the ICB governance framework; To work closely with contracting and performance managers to ensure that performance metrics are developed across the ICB to inform all work programmes; To ensure agreed governance arrangements for the ICB are implemented in response to regulation and current guidance, both national and local. Building effective partnerships To develop strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders relevant to the portfolio, clinical and managerial leads within providers, NHS, Local Authority and partner colleagues, and other local ICBs to enable service change; To deploy high quality communication skills to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of developments and objectives, making use of a wide range of media and well developed persuasive, and negotiation skills where agreement or co-operation is difficult to obtain; To inspire and motivate INTs, stakeholders, which includes users, patients and their representatives, by articulating a clear vision for services in Dorset ICB; encouraging collaborative working to improve services where there may be resistance to change or divergent opinions on the direction of change; To ensure effective mechanisms for consultation with service users/patients, carers and advocates and ensure that users/patients and carers needs are appropriately reflected in commissioning and service plans. Leadership The post holder is required to recognise their role as a senior team member within the Primary and Community Integrated Team and ICB and act accordingly to drive and deliver the system vision and priorities. To create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday action ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality. In support of the Deputy Director/ Head of Elective Care, take the lead on specified areas of commissioning work across Dorset. To promote and support robust communication and engagement across the Dorset Integrated Care System (ICS). People Management Responsible for the day-to-day range of staff management, which will include responsibility for supporting appraisals, development of staff, recruitment and where necessary, processes such as grievance and disciplinary matters. Responsible for an individuals development on the job and job performance management. Work in conjunction with line managers and other job managers to assess and manage confidential information about an individual's performance and capability development. Please note we reserve the right to extend the closing date or close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible For further information, please see full Job Description attached. Person Specification Skills, Abilities and Knowledge Essential Ability to provide strong and clear leadership to team, leading by example with high levels of personal integrity. Line Management Skills including recruitment, disciplinary, grievances & sickness/ absence. Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills. Ability to analyse and interpret information of complex nature and present it in a concise and simple and professional manner. Management Skills, demonstrable and evidenced skills in management performance Management Skills, demonstrable and evidenced skills in financial and risk management Strong organisational skills and ability to work in a high-pressured environment. Ability to analyse very complex data where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources for performance and strategic commissioning. Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium- and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly. Good IT skills. Ability to write high level reports for a variety of Audiences up to and including Board. Qualifications Essential Degree level Advanced theoretical (equivalent to Masters Level and/or specialist training) knowledge in a post relevant discipline or function Management or Leadership qualification Knowledge of General Practice and / or Community Services Evidence of continuing professional development that enhances theoretical and practical knowledge. Experience Essential Leadership and management experience at senior level in a healthcare setting. Relevant experience of working effectively across organisational professional boundaries in complex organisations. Comprehensive experience addressing issues and problem solving. Experience of contract monitoring, management and improving performance. Experience in the successful management of change with demonstrable outcomes across systems. Experience in setting up and undertaking Governance and Quality assurance. Experience of risk management and implementing processes to monitor compliance against targets / external standards. Experience of application of the principles of project and programme management and a proven track record of delivering complex projects. Experience in using data / Information analytics in service performance and strategic planning. Person Specification Skills, Abilities and Knowledge Essential Ability to provide strong and clear leadership to team, leading by example with high levels of personal integrity. Line Management Skills including recruitment, disciplinary, grievances & sickness/ absence. Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills. Ability to analyse and interpret information of complex nature and present it in a concise and simple and professional manner. Management Skills, demonstrable and evidenced skills in management performance Management Skills, demonstrable and evidenced skills in financial and risk management Strong organisational skills and ability to work in a high-pressured environment. Ability to analyse very complex data where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources for performance and strategic commissioning. Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium- and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly. Good IT skills. Ability to write high level reports for a variety of Audiences up to and including Board. Qualifications Essential Degree level Advanced theoretical (equivalent to Masters Level and/or specialist training) knowledge in a post relevant discipline or function Management or Leadership qualification Knowledge of General Practice and / or Community Services Evidence of continuing professional development that enhances theoretical and practical knowledge. Experience Essential Leadership and management experience at senior level in a healthcare setting. Relevant experience of working effectively across organisational professional boundaries in complex organisations. Comprehensive experience addressing issues and problem solving. Experience of contract monitoring, management and improving performance. Experience in the successful management of change with demonstrable outcomes across systems. Experience in setting up and undertaking Governance and Quality assurance. Experience of risk management and implementing processes to monitor compliance against targets / external standards. Experience of application of the principles of project and programme management and a proven track record of delivering complex projects. Experience in using data / Information analytics in service performance and strategic planning. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name NHS Dorset Address NHS Dorset - County Hall Colliton Park Dorchester Dorset DT1 1XJ Employer's website https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)