Head of Commissioning for Learning Disabilities and Autism Services

Head of Commissioning for Learning Disabilities and Autism Services

Band 8c

Main area: Head of Commissioning
Grade: Band 8c
Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (FTC)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 436-7091157

Site: Uffculme Centre, Trust Headquarters / Hybrid Remote Working
Town: Birmingham and Solihull
Salary: £74,290 - £85,601 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 15/04/2025 23:59
Interview date: 29/04/2025

Please note that this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and inspirational leader to join our team as the Head of Commissioning for Learning Disabilities within the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Provider Collaborative. This is an exciting opportunity to lead on the commissioning portfolio for learning disabilities and autism services within the provider collaborative working across all our system partner organisations in Birmingham and Solihull. The post holder will ensure the Provider Collaborative, in conjunction with its Transforming Care Partners (TCP) partners, has developed Learning Disabilities & Autism Spectrum Disorder strategic plans and will ensure the system has joined-up commissioning arrangements. The holder will have in-depth knowledge and experience of working with adults with a learning disability and autism, including knowledge of local services.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide senior leadership and support for the Transforming Care programme for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This will entail working with a range of stakeholders including providers, specialised commissioning, and the local authority to ensure that community services are developed and established to facilitate the discharge of patients from hospital and prevent admission. The post holder will also liaise and work with neighbouring Transforming Care Partners to ensure that plans for building support in the community are delivered.

The post holder will provide professional and managerial support for the Birmingham and Solihull Provider Collaborative Learning Disabilities and Autism Commissioning Team.

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the quality of commissioned services provided by the Learning Disabilities and Mental Health providers. This will include leading on the development and delivery of robust systems for identifying, investigating, and managing any areas of concern in the delivery of clinical services and ensuring that remedial plans are developed and implemented to ensure patient safety.

The post holder will ensure that patients’ voices are heard, and that patients’ and carers’ views are used to improve the quality of patient care and develop community services that meet patient needs.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing, and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive, and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in the NHS and or LA with commissioning experience
• Commissioning expertise in health care environment
• Ability to develop strategy and pathway design for people with LD & ASD
• Clear understanding of the national agenda for the transforming of LD and ASD services
• Extensive experience of partnership working across LA and Health and 3rd sector agencies
• Proven leadership experience
• Negotiate on difficult and very complex and detailed issues.
• Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
• Advanced problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Extensive knowledge of quality and patient safety requirements and monitoring and assurance processes
• Demonstrated capability to manage own workload, and make informed decisions in the absence of all required information, working to tight and often challenging timescales
• Works with stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation.

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice, pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.