Location
Kingston upon Thames

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£48,531 per annum

About the Role
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company with a public sector ethos and the freedom to innovate, owned by three local authorities: Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond. As a Senior SEND Commissioning Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring the best outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). You will use your strong background in education, health, or social care commissioning to monitor complex cases, including those that are jointly funded or involve high-cost bespoke provision. This role involves representing the team in multi-agency discussions and decision-making forums, balancing the needs of children with the efficient use of public resources. You will build relationships with commercial providers and conduct quality assurance to ensure young people are safe and well-supported. Additionally, you will provide guidance to colleagues, lead projects to develop the commissioning function, and occasionally deputise for the SEND Commissioning & Partnerships Lead.

Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing oversight and monitoring for complex cases, including jointly funded or high-cost bespoke provision
- Serving as a key representative in decision-making forums and multi-agency discussions
- Building and maintaining relationships with commercial providers and undertaking quality assurance activities
- Working closely with the wider SEND service to advise on complex cases and contribute to service operations
- Leading projects to develop the SEND Commissioning function
- Line managing or providing guidance to SEND Commissioning Team members and deputising when required

About our benefits
We offer a positive and supportive environment with a competitive salary and hybrid working options. Benefits include:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years, plus an additional day off in your birthday month (term-time workers receive leave according to non-working periods)
- Tailored induction sessions
- Local Government salary and pension schemes (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- Excellent learning and development opportunities to support your career pathway

Important Information
Successful candidates will join on set start dates each month. The role is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as it is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Achieving for Children is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and is a Disability Confident employer.

Experience
- Significant experience of commissioning within education, health, or social care
- Experience in leading teams, including line management, performance management, and change management
- Experience in market shaping and management, needs analysis, development of sustainable commissioning strategies, stakeholder engagement, contract management, and placement performance for SEND and social care
- Proven ability to build strong partnerships, maintain relationships, and co-produce solutions with diverse stakeholders, including providers to promote cost-effective working relationships

About you
- Educated to degree level and/or significant relevant commissioning experience
- Strong understanding of SEND legislation including the Children & Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice
- Passionate about Achieving for Children’s vision, mission, and values (trust, empower, respect) to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy, and successful lives
- Excellent organisational skills including time management, creative thinking, problem-solving, multitasking, and ability to work flexibly and independently with limited management oversight

Qualifications
- Degree level education and/or significant relevant commissioning experience is required