Service Development Officer Southampton is the lead authority for two regional children’s services commissioning partnerships and there is an exciting opportunity to join us in shaping the future of Children’s Services as a Service Development Office. This unique role offers the chance to drive real change for Children Looked After across multiple local authorities. Southampton manages contracts for Children’s Residential Care (CRC) and Independent Fostering Agencies on behalf of 21 Local Authorities. Through this work, you will play a key role in improving outcomes for Children Looked After by ensuring the effective management of all associated contractual arrangements, provider relationships, and improvement priorities agreed by the partnerships. About the team: You will be joining a small, highly motivated, team that has an impressive track record utilising the disciplines of commissioning and contract management to deliver transformational change and service improvement for the benefit of our local residents and more widely through our long-standing leadership of regional commissioning partnerships. This role offers significant opportunities for professional development within a supportive and collaborative team. About you: We are looking for a highly motivated individual, with excellent organisational skills and the ability to maintain a substantial and varied workload. You will be managing a number of tasks and projects at any one time, keeping track of the work and organising your time appropriately. This covers distinct areas of work; Leading a programme of work designed to ensure the aims of the partnership are fulfilled and the value of the partnership arrangements are at all times maximised Carrying out contract monitoring visits to assess and report on the performance of providers in accordance with contract terms, key performance indicators, and national standards, identifying and ensuring achievement of required service improvements Overseeing the production and presentation of quarterly and an annual management information reports to the commissioning partnership Managing the provider fee uplift processes, ensuring sound strategic financial management, including provider negotiations, advising partners on how to achieve efficiencies, managing finance processes and payments, and advising on expenditure and cost saving options. Advising and offering contractual support and mediation between partners and providers to resolve disputes and contract / operational challenges. Monitoring and ensure accurate records are available to partners including contracts, monitoring, actions plans, and default notices You will need: Excellent influencing and negotiating skills The ability to develop and maintain relationships that support the achievement delivery of partnership objectives An understanding of commissioning, and how this can achieve the best possible outcomes The ability to communicate information to a variety of audiences and in a wide variety of formats Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of people The ability to analyse and interpret complex and often conflicting information to inform strategic decision making Familiarity with the Children’s Social Care sector, particularly Children Looked After would be beneficial, but not essential. We welcome applicants from diverse professional backgrounds with the ability to gain knowledge in this area. W hat we can offer you : Here at SCC we have a range of different perks and benefits, a few examples can be found below. A generous local government pension scheme. Flexible working (role dependant). Up to 13 days of Flexi Leave. Hybrid working arrangements (role dependant). 25 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays. Online Benefits – salary sacrifice schemes, benefits and discounts. Great local transport links. Employee assistance programme with access to our health wellbeing and support. F or further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk) Contact details for informal discussion: For further information and details regarding the position please contact Jeanette Keyte: jeanette.keytesouthampton.gov.uk Recruitment contact details: Email: recruitmentsouthampton.gov.uk Tel: 023 8083 4033 For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council Follow us on social media for regular updates on our featured jobs and latest news. Twitter Facebook YouTube