Deputy Director Integrated Commissioning - Req24629

Job title: Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning

Salary: £106,229 to £116,652

Hours: 37 pw

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds

As Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning, you’ll thrive on taking the lead in bringing partners together to ensure our city can provide the best health and social care for residents who need support. 

This role is an opportunity to transform lives for the better. Your strategic leadership on social care related commissioning will reach right across the city. You will champion initiatives within the council and beyond to implement high quality services for the biggest impact on people’s lives in the city.

The Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning is based in the Adults and Health directorate at Leeds City Council and is jointly funded by the council and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in Leeds. The postholder has joint and direct responsibility for a comprehensive, evidence-based commissioning strategy, to shape services that respond to citizen voice and comply with all necessary regulations, standards, and governance, from local to national level.

Our Better Lives Strategy is central to everything we do in Adults and Health. Reflecting our belief that everyone has the right to a good and fulfilling life, the strategy sets out our plans and priorities to help everyone with care and support needs to live the life they want to live. We can’t do this alone; the strategy stresses the importance of connection and collaboration with health partners, all working as a team for Leeds.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning, you will bring to the role:

• in-depth knowledge of health and social care, through a combination of professional accreditation or a relevant degree and significant experience at a senior level in the sector
• demonstrable leadership skills and strategic planning ability, with evidence of delivering transformational change to achieve service improvement goals agreed with all stakeholders
• a collaborative and innovative approach, understanding of the political context and governance framework and the ability to foster productive partnerships in a multi-agency environment
• decisive problem solving and strong judgement to identify opportunities, address issues and drive continuous improvement, promoting a high-performance culture across the service
• a record of successful delivery and a multi-disciplinary approach in planning and directing strategic programmes involving partners, citizens and communities, with a clear focus on better outcomes for local people
• excellent resource management to ensure financial integrity within the service and maximise value for money, whilst complying with all regulatory and statutory requirements 

About the role 

As our next Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning, you will be integral to the leadership team in our Adults and Health directorate as well as holding a key role at the heart of the health and social care sector in the wider city. 

With your leadership skills, expertise, and sector insight, you will spearhead a whole-system approach to commissioning, focused on the outcomes that best meet the needs of local people. Through excellent communication and negotiation, you will influence the strategic direction of services in the city and establish positive, sustainable working relationships for long-term benefit.

For further information, please request a candidate information pack by emailing recruitment@leeds.gov.uk. 

To apply, please upload your CV and personal statement on the Leeds Jobs site ensuring your application reflects the requirements of the role as outlined in the Role Profile.

For more information or to arrange a discussion with Caroline Baria, Director of Adults and Health about the role, please contact Caroline.Baria@leeds.gov.uk

Closing date Sunday 5th May 2024

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2022. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose

The  Deputy Director Integrated Commissioning will provide strategic leadership on social care related commissioning; providing advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council. Working with key partners at national, regional and local level to champion the initiatives within the organisation and support the delivery of real change across the city.  This post is accountable to both Leeds City Council’s Adults and Health Leadership Team and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in Leeds, reporting to the Director of Adults and Health and working extensively with the ICB in Leeds through matrix management. 

With an emphasis on strong leadership, this role operates within the context of the Best City Ambition, and the city’s broader strategic objectives.

Responsibilities 

• Lead on the provision of commissioning functions for all Adult Social Care, housing-related support services, Public Health services and commissioning of services from the third sector.
• Ensure an evidence based, coherent and comprehensive commissioning strategy is in place which supports Health and Wellbeing priorities and local, regional and national requirements, governance arrangements and standards.
• Take the lead for contract compliance and quality improvement and quality assurance functions relating to all the commissioned services.
• Oversee the strategic use of council assets and directly provided services, to ensure that they operate in line with the strategic commissioning needs of the council.
• Lead on commissioning mental health and learning disability services, including NHS mental health and learning disability provider contracts and a range of third sector contracts.
• Lead on delivery of services and pathways that reduce or delay hospital admissions, and those that support hospital discharge across all areas of resident need.
• Lead on the implementation of Integrated Commissioning plans and strategies across the health and care system for adults.
• Actively drive and deliver continuous improvement initiatives taking the strategic lead in developing the service in the context of city, regional and national priorities.
• Lead managers within the service to develop a high performing workforce and manage resources to achieve service and overarching objectives in line with the city’s agreed prioritisation.
• Provide strategic leadership, delivering advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council. 
• Work with key partners at national, regional and local level and in collaboration with colleagues and partners support the delivery of real change across the city. 
• Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of  service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
• In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework, ensure that effective budget management and control takes place across your service, the planned level and quality of service provided for within the revenue and capital budgets are delivered and that budget pressures are resolved.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications

Relevant degree qualification or substantial experience in working in this field together with substantial senior leadership and management experience.

Working Context - Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role.  The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service. 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Experience of delivering an evidence based, outcome focussed approach to commissioning that enables the maximisation of a whole system approach to meeting the needs of local residents.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the legislative, strategic and policy context within which health and adult social care operate and the strategic issues that face integrated work.
• Experience of strategic market management and market shaping to ensure that provider organisations are able to develop in line with strategic objectives.
• Substantial experience of ensuring that the resident voice is central to all commissioning activity. 
• Evidence of acting as a catalyst for change and innovation across all areas of commissioning.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to the commissioning of adult social care and health services.
• Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
• Experience of successful leadership and management of large scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
• Evidence of ability to make reasoned and logical decisions allied with high level organisational skills.
• Significant successful senior leadership experience.
• Substantial experience of operating in a political environment.
• Extensive experience of exercising sound judgement and providing clear advice at senior level.
• Experience of developing and implementing highly complex strategies leading to successful outcomes.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.
• Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection. 

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Comply with duties as a leader, under the Health and Safety at work Act, Leeds City Council Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy and supporting standards, values and behaviours