Housing Commissioning Manager

Job Introduction

About us

 Oxfordshire County Council’s, Health, Education and Social Care (HESC) supports a population of 700,000 people across the County. We are focussed on delivering the best life outcomes for every age group and every area of need. 

 About the role

 As a member of the Health, Education and Social Care Start Well Team, the Housing Commissioning Manager will play a vital role in ensuring the wellbeing of our children and young people aged 0-18 (and up to 25 with a EHCP), with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health problems, Autism and Physical Disabilities.

 The Housing Commissioning Manager will be required to understand the population, their resources, needs, and aspirations, legislative requirements now and in the future. The postholder will be required to work with local people and our organisational partners, to make the most effective use of local resources and develop solutions to meet needs and aspirations. The Housing Commissioning Manager will play a key role in supporting continuous improvement so we can be even more ambitious for our organisations and communities in the future. The role will require close partnership working with local people, the Districts and City Council Housing Departments within Oxfordshire and providers and landlords. This will achieve an evidence based, person-centred, place-based and outcomes focused approach.

The postholder will lead on day-to-day commissioning activities, including developing commissioning strategies, managing risk and working with operational and support services to manage the commissioning cycle. The role will require you to learn and adapt to deliver positive outcomes in efficient and consistent ways, constructively challenging how services are provided and working together to build on our strengths, whilst being a key player in the delivery of the work to reduce youth homelessness in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Directorate. The role will also line manage the Senior Housing Practitioner who will provide operational support to the role.

About you

 Ideally you will have a relevant qualification or degree in Health, Education, Social Care or Commissioning (or equivalent experience). You will have previous experience of housing services and commissioning (preferable in local government or wider public sector). You will have the ability to analyse needs, demands and gaps in services working with the data we have available, through research and engagement with our community and stakeholders (including partners). This will require you to have good communication skills (verbal and written) and be able to work in a collaborative way, resulting in the effective design of new or existing services. You will have experience of constructing reports, such as business cases, options appraisal and other associated reports. You will have a good understanding of project management and be able to develop detailed project plans including the management of these and appropriately escalate risks.

 We are also looking for:

• The ability to work with stakeholders at all levels.
• To be able to work flexibly in a fast paced and quickly changing environment.
• Able to negotiate with and influence others.
• Using a range of tools to support commissioning such as data analysis, cost modelling and associated Microsoft Applications.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible and hybrid working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays 
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Our commitment to:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:

Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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For an informal discussion about the role please contact – Caroline Kelly (Head of Commissioning – Start Well) on 07526986062 or email caroline.kelly@oxfordshire.gov.uk