Job summary
Contracts Officer (33 hours per week) - Somerset IntegratedCare Board
The Acute & Community Contracts team at NHS Somerset isseeking to recruit a Band 6 Contracts Officer.The post holder will be part of a small, friendly and supportive team thatmanages a diverse range of agreements and acts as a key link between theIntegrated Care Board (ICB) and the relevant provider organisation.
The team prides itself on its ability to maintain anddevelop close and constructive working relationships with ICB colleagues and ourprovider organisations. We also help supportwider system change to meet the health needs of the Somerset population. We use our contracts and the relationships asenablers to deliver our medium to long term priorities and drive forward serviceimprovements and innovation.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received prior to the advertised closing date.
Propesed inteviews dates -Monday 16th & Tuesday 17thDecember 2024
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be the keypoint of contact for a number of agreements and associated projects. The portfolio covers a spectrum of services including mental health, dementiacare, head injury, respiratory & termination of pregnancy and involvesworking with providersacross the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors.
Part of the role involves supporting the Contract Manager particularlywith the governance processes associated with new procurement legislation. This will be rolled out within the ICB overthe next few months.
We are lookingfor somebody with confidence, sufficient experience and knowledge of NHSagreements and an ability to communicate with a diverse range of individuals and excellent organisational skills anda sound, working knowledge of MS office packages.
About us
NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), known as NHS Somerset is the statutory NHS organisation responsible for implementing a health and care strategy developed by the Integrated Care Partnership.
NHS Somerset consists of approx. 350 staff, across 8 directorates, with multiple teams within each directorate.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. When recruiting, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all. We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve.
We offer flexible working from your first day of employment and we also have an agile approach to home / office-based working. Please note however, that you will be required to work from our HQ, Wynford House in Yeovil for 2/3 days per week and that elements of the role may require you to travel to other locations across Somerset, to attend in-person meetings and meet the needs of the service. Please consider this before applying.
Note for existing NHS Employees applying for Fixed Term vacancies at NHS Somerset
If you are an existing NHS Employee and are applying for a Fixed Term role with NHS Somerset, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only.
You should gain agreement from your current employer before applying to allow you to be released on secondment.
Please ensure the reference section confirms your current HR Department details.
Thank you for your interest.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
This post contributes to the managementof a portfolio of contracts and associated projects that meet the health needsof the people of Somerset.
As a member of the contractingteam, this post supports broader system change and delivery of key prioritiesover the medium to long term. The contractsand the work undertaken by the post holder and wider team act as enablers todrive forward service improvements and innovation and at the same time create akey link between the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the relevant providerorganisations that form part of the portfolio of contracts.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE ROLE:
To work with commissioning workstreams andother agencies to support the development and commissioning of care provided inthe most suitable setting for the patient
To ensure quality, access and achievement ofnational targets and value for money in all commissioning arrangements
To support the management of contracts withinthe financial resources agreed through the annual planning process
To contribute to the development and implementation of the strategicplans and business objectives of the ICB
To support the implementation of commissioningarrangements that will secure the delivery of agreed outcomes within the agreedfinancial resources
To support the implementation of contractingarrangements that will secure the delivery of key national and ICB priorities
To support the development and implementationof agreed programmes
Contracting
Toundertake a range of tasks to support the Contracts Team including contractmanagement, drafting contract documentation, organising meetings, takingminutes, analysing and interpreting performance data.
To undertake tasks as delegated by the Head of Contracts which may include:
-Co-ordinating work programmes
-Organising papers
-Co-ordinating first drafts of briefings,reports, papers, contracts and correspondence
-Dealing with general enquiries relating to thecontract portfolio, including Freedom of Information requests
-Providing specific project support to projectsand processes, including those associated with changes to the procurement rules
-Acting as team champion for the NHS rolloutof Atamis as a database and management tool
To be the lead contact for the Integrated CareBoard (ICB) in the management of specified group of contracts within theportfolio, a portfolio which will change over time to meet the needs of the ICB
To provideinput through the procurement process for services that fall within thecontract portfolio
To lead specific work areas relating to theportfolio of responsibilities
To liaise directly with providers to ensurecontract requirements are fulfilled
To ensure compliance with the ICBs StandingFinancial and waiver process associated with the contracts within theportfolio
QualityImprovement
To provide support to the Contract Teamenabling them to work effectively with provider organisations to deliverimprovements in services and operational standards
To support the Contract Team in undertakingrelevant research including benchmarking and review of evidence base
Patientand Carer Experience
To work closely with ICB colleagues to ensure qualityand patient outcomes are appropriately reflected in the commissioning plans andwork programmes for the provider
To ensure delivery by the provider of patientparticipation and engagement in development and commissioning, whereappropriate, to improve the patient pathway
PolicyImplementation and Delivery
To support the implementation of clearmonitoring and performance management processes for all contracts
To support the management of robust performancedata systems
To work closely with colleagues across the ICBto ensure a joined up approach to improving services is in place
Collaborative WorkingWorking with colleagues within the ICB and acrossthe wider ICS to ensure integrated working in the interest of patients, serviceefficiencies, productivity and value for money.Working with out of area ICBs to supportcontract arrangements and address cross-border issues that impact on patientcare, bringing in ICB colleagues as appropriate.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
1. Proven experience of working within a contract management environment
2. Experience of developing, writing and implementing local contract documentation
3. Experience of developing contracting across an organisation, by interpreting national policy for use at a local level, to ensure the organisation remains fully compliant
4. Understanding of national policy relating to contract management
5. Ability to understand and interpret national policy, clinical guidance and best practice in relation to service improvement or clinical engagement activities and appreciate the implications of this on commissioning services
6. Understanding of the relationship between NHS England and provider and commissioning organisations
7. Understanding of the strategic commissioning cycle
8. Ability to problem solve and respond to sudden unexpected demands
9. Proven experience of capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Desirable
10. Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior management level, outlining key recommendations
11. Experience of working across organisational and professional boundaries in complex organisations.
12. Experience of working with senior level staff
Qualifications
Essential
13. Educated to degree level or significant equivalent previous proven experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area
14. Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
15. Post-graduate degree in Management Studies or equivalent
16. Prince 2 Project Management qualification or equivalent
Communication
Essential
17. Must be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information present it to senior managers
18. Good skills for explaining negotiating and influencing people to gain a consensus
19. Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to form constructive, credible strategic and operational relationships with a range of health and social care professionals at all levels through high professional credibility
20. Negotiate on difficult issues including performance and change
21. Understand and abide by the requirement for confidentiality & adhere to total confidentiality at all times
22. Experience of working with MS Teams, or similar, for meetings
Personal Statement / Motivation for Applying
Essential
23. Please use this section to explain how you meet the additional criteria in the Personal Specification including your reasons and motivation for applying.