Commissioning Manager - Huntingdon

The Trust's commissioning and contracts team is responsible for NHS contracts and Service Level Agreements within the Trust's contract portfolio which is currently worth approximately £550m in income from patient related activity. Currently there are 3 standard NHS Contracts and approximately 200 SLAs which feature a range of complex commission arrangements and each contract has unique refinements and complexities.

The role of the Commissioning and Contracts Team is to ensure appropriate contractual arrangements are in place with all required organisations, and that these are appropriately managed. This is primarily with NHS Commissioning organisations where the contracts team must ensure appropriate reporting against compliance with national and local standards is provided, along with activity and finance. The contracts team must work closely with both commissioners and internal colleagues to ensure that all queries are responded to appropriately and within a timely manner. This principle also applies to service level agreements with other NHS organisations.

Interviews will be taking place on 30th January and will be face-to-face.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for undertaking all core tasks involved in this work, which include:

• Working with colleagues in NHS Commissioning organisations and partner NHS / non-NHS organisations to ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place, and being managed. This includes supporting the annual planning and contracting round for contracts identified for this role.
• Working with Clinical Divisional Business Managers, Financial Business Partners and Information Services to ensure clinical activity is being correctly recorded and invoiced/ paid.
• Working with managers to predict the financial and service impact of new / changed commissioning arrangements, clinical pathways or reforms.
• Working with Clinical Divisions to review new and/or changing requirements to NHS Contract and SLA provision.
• Lead on management of contracts as identified for this role.
• Management of staff as identified within the team's organisational structure, and possible restructure in the future.

About us

We are dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusivity within our workforce and warmly welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on encouraging those from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, as well as candidates from our local area.

As part of our commitment to supporting our employees we offer a range of benefits including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days and increasing to 29 days after five years of service and 33 days after 10 years of service, in addition to the national Bank Holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Enhanced hourly rates for unsociable hours e.g. night shifts, weekends, bank holidays.
• Opportunities for career development and training to help you progress in your role.
• Wellbeing support and activities to promote a healthy work environment.
• Access to our in-house physiotherapy service.
• On-site canteens offering subsidised meals.
• Subsidised staff parking (currently free).
• Free Stagecoach Bus Travel to and from work within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees feel valued and empowered to excel in their roles. Join us and become part of a team dedicated to making a positive difference in our community.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Contract Management

• Develop, establish, and manage arrangements or systems for ensuring appropriate updating of all relevant contracts and the associated performance, costs and income. This will involve ensuring processes are supported by the appropriate analysis and information is reported in a timely manner. Resolve issues with colleagues where appropriate, keeping line manager informed of decisions made and escalate any concerns to line manager.
• Work closely with NHS commissioning colleagues, attending regular contract meetings and leading on areas / reviews as appropriate.
• Work with clinical divisions to prepare new contracts as required and incorporate into project management work plan. Undertake risk analysis during preparation of new contracts to ensure fitness for purpose and monitor arrangements during service delivery are in place. Ensure contracts are signed off within contracts assurance process.
• Liaise regularly with Clinical Divisions, the Income Team, Management Accountants / Financial Services and other colleagues as appropriate.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring mechanisms are in place with relevant divisions, to provide assurance that targets are met, and contract agreements are adhered to. This will involve liaising with Clinical Directorates, ICBs and other health organisations and communicating effectively between those parties.
• Work with Clinical Divisions to resolve contractual issues in a timely and effective manner, including but not limited to financial issues, specifications or operational issues.
• Support preparation of documentation so all included organisations can complete due diligence within the required timescales.
• To liaise with clinical leads and other senior colleagues within the divisions to develop and monitor the SLAs and MOUs as well as identify solutions to contractual queries or issues.
• Advise the Head of Commissioning Relationships of any contract and revenue performance issues and likely sanctions, along with issues relating to the adherence of service level agreement terms and conditions. This will involve helping to put together responses to queries and performance issues and co-ordinating information to allow dispute resolution.

Reporting and Information

• To maintain a contract database, keeping a record of progress made on contract renewals. To produce and be responsible for the distribution (including on the Trust's Intranet) of the monthly Service Level Monitoring reports to directorates which identify, amongst other areas, contracts due for renewal.
• Ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place for all contracts ensuring that agreements are signed and records are maintained and stored appropriately, both electronically and in hard copy.
• Ensure that appropriate monitoring is included within contracts such as key performance indicators, and support divisions with the development of these.
• To be responsible for reviewing service specifications to ensure they are contractually sound and fit for purpose, supporting clinical divisions with articulating these as required.
• Take responsibility for monitoring spend against budget and investigating and reporting back on any anomalies and areas of overspend.
• Record and manage contractual risks (financial and otherwise) and ensure there are reported to the Head of Commissioning Relationships.

Planning

• To work with the wider commissioning and contract team in undertaking risk analysis during renewal of contracts/service level agreements in terms of fitness for purpose and to monitor effectiveness during service delivery. Produce performance reports for various audiences, both internal and external.
• As required, work with Clinical Divisions when the Trust enters any Pre-Qualifying Questionnaires (PQQs), Invitation to Tender Templates (ITTs) and invitation to submit final bid (ITSFB) within tight deadlines.
• Lead contract planning for identified organisation, including review of activity, finance and contractual documentation.
• Ensure that national and local policy is reflected correctly in agreements entered into by the Trust and updated as appropriate, for example, information governance.

Communication and Engagement

• Meet regularly with divisional colleagues to understand current delivery issues which can be supported by the contracts team.
• Develop and maintain good awareness of current issues in the NHS including NHSE, NHS Arms Length Bodies and local policy on contracting, commissioning and National Tariff Payment System guidance.
• Keep informed and be familiar with any changes in the national price tariff and associated tariff structure and service classification framework and regulations.
• Contribute to the work and development of the Finance Directorate as a whole, participating in Trust-wide projects and initiatives and as a member of the wider Finance Directorate.
• Ensure collaborative relationships with system partners to enable collaborative commissioning and contracting.
• Assist the Contracts Team with other work as required appropriate to the band.
• Support training and induction of new staff.

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of working at an NHS Trust.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the NHS contracting regime, 'payment by results' policy and arrangements, and related Government policies on the development of UK healthcare.
• Understand/have knowledge of Service Level Agreements - negotiation and management process.
• Experience working with NHS contracts, bids/ tenders.
• Experience of NHS informatics or financial management.

Experience

Essential

• Working in a job requiring high standard of administrative skills, high levels of accuracy and work to tight deadlines.
• Experience working with contracts.

Desirable

• Experience working with NHS Commissioners.
• Project Management experience/qualification.

Key Skills

Essential

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Email).
• Administrative skills, attention to detail.
• Methodical, well-organised approach to work (able to prioritise effectively).
• Able to initiate contact with, and relate well to all levels of staff within and external to the Trust.
• Working on own initiative with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal & written communication.

Desirable

• Advanced use of Excel.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of clinical and non-clinical staff.

Education

Essential

• Educated to A level or equivalent qualification.

Employer details
Employer name
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Hinchingbrooke Hospital
Hinchingbrooke Park
Huntingdon
PE29 6NT
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

176-C-6796850