Principal Commissioning and Partnerships Officer

Job purpose

Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of commissioning strategy, policy and procedures to ensure commissioned services meet the needs of the community, and victims; and supports the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.

Main responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the commissioning strategy to support the delivery of Police and Crime Plan, developing a comprehensive commissioning framework to support the achievement these priorities, which is underpinned by an appropriate resource model and is outcome focussed.
• Lead the development and implementation of commissioning policies and processes to support the delivery of strategies and priorities ensuring compliance with commissioning best practices and legal requirements. Provide advice and guidance to senior managers.
• Determine research to be commissioned based on an in depth understanding of national and local initiatives, to ensure evidence based commissioning. Communicating research findings for incorporation into the Police and Crime Plan.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with commissioning and research bodies to ensure commissioned services meet the needs of Cheshire communities based on local and national developments and offers efficient use of resources and where appropriate develop joint working arrangements including co-commissioning and joint commissioning. Develop an awareness of third sector issues and liaise with third sector partners.
• Work alongside the Engagement Officer to identify the priorities and needs of Cheshire communities across a range of complex issues through the development and completion of needs analysis tools and processes.
• Evaluate tenders and bids for commissioned services providing evidence based recommendations.
• Drive efficiency and effectiveness of contracts though a performance management framework , to ensure delivery against expected outcomes and report on performance achieved to inform the commissioners Annual Report. Investigate and identify areas of underperformance or breach of agreements, reporting through the appropriate governance framework corrective action to ensure value.
• Design and develop service level agreements as part of the procurement process.
• Manage the Commissioning Officer ensuring they effectively deliver their responsibilities.
• Develop a partnership strategy to support the Commissioner’s aims and objectives in becoming a community leader in policing and community safety. Identify and facilitate opportunities for partnership working to deliver a good service to the communities of Cheshire that offers value for money.
• Represent the Commissioner at partnership meetings across Cheshire including Community Safety Partnerships, health & Wellbeing Boards and others, ensuring the Commissioners Police & Crime Plan is communicated effectively and that the Commissioner is briefed effectively on key issues of interest.
• Attend meetings on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner regarding the commissioning of services to ensure decisions made are in compliance with the commissioning framework and policy and actions taken by the OPCC are appropriately communicated.
• To maintain an awareness of activities across the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, anticipating demand, highlighting risks and providing support and assistance as necessary to ensure the office delivers the Commissioner’s agenda.
• Manage extensive budgets to support the delivery of services and community safety.