Manchester City Council
Commissioning and Contracts Officer
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G7 Contracts and Commissioning Officer
Manchester City Council – Centralised Placements Service
Working Arrangements
- Hours: 35 hours per week
- Contract: Full-time / Permanent
- Working Style: Hybrid – Split between remote work (e.g., home) and on-site (office)
Additional Benefits:
- Essential car user allowance
Application Deadlines:
- Closing: 08 July 2026 at 11:59pm
- Interview Method: Face-to-face
About the Role & Team
Manchester is a forward-thinking city where the Children’s Social Care team strives to create a safe, happy, healthy, and successful future for every child and young person. As part of the Centralised Placements Service, the Contracts and Commissioning Officer plays a vital role in securing safe, nurturing care environments for children who cannot live at home.
The Placements Service works across Manchester, collaborating with:
- Social care teams
- Fostering service
- External care providers
This is a fast-paced, five-day-a-week service要求 creativity, flexibility, and solution-focused practice. As an Contracts and Commissioning Officer, you will:
- Support care planning
- Amplify children and young people’s voices
- Ensure high-quality, cost-effective care that meets individual needs
Passionate about making a difference? We’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
The post-holder will:
- Respond to emergency placements under pressure, prioritising quick yet effective solutions.
- Collaborate with Children’s Social Care to ensure permanence planning and long-term stability for children.
- Maintain child-focused communication with providers, carers, and colleagues, aligning with Our Manchester behaviours.
- Guide safe introductions between children and caregivers, fostering belonging and dignity.
- Lead specialist placement searches for:
- Children with disabilities
- Young people with trauma and attachment difficulties
- Collect, analyze, and report placement data aligned with the Sufficiency Strategy.
- Develop relationships with independent residential and fostering providers across Manchester and Greater Manchester.
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Role Requirements
We seek a motivated, resilient, and child-focused professional who:
✔ Has experience in applying innovation and solution-focused practice to complex placement needs. ✔ Demonstrates empathy, reliability, and approachability, with a strong commitment to advocacy for children. ✔ Understands the critical role of timely placement-finding in a child’s life outcomes. ✔ Thrives under pressure, manages conflicts with calm and fairness, and collaborates across teams. ✔ Navigates organisational change, sensitive issues, and inter-agency communication effectively (e.g., with health colleagues). ✔ Supports efficiency in brokerage and commissioning activity, ensuring alignment between operational teams and providers.
Working for Manchester
Joining Manchester City Council isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to shape positive change in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities. Our commitment reflects Our Manchester values:
“We take time to listen and understand | We work together and trust each other | We respect each other’s differences | We’re bold and eager to try new ideas | We proudly champion Manchester”
Benefits
| Pension & Retirement | Generous pension with top-up options; includes three-times-salary life-cover. | | Leave & Family Support | Up to 26 annual leave days (31 days after 5 years); enhanced parental/carer leave. | | Health & Wellbeing | Free flu jabs, eye tests, and NHS cycling scheme subscriptions. | | Perks & Discounts | MCR+ discounts across home shopping, travel, holidays, and more. | | Development & Growth | Access to training, apprenticeships, and a comprehensive onboarding process. | | Work-Life Fit | Up to 3 days pro-rated volunteering leave; flexible or permanent remote options. |
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Commitment to Inclusion
We actively encourage applications from:
- Armed Forces members/veterans
- Care leavers
- People with disabilities or long-term conditions
Manchester City Council is a Disability Confident Employer, offering: ✅ Temporary workplace adjustments ✅ Accessible recruitment via ReciteMe tools ❌ Sponsorship for Skilled Visa routes is unavailable for this role.
Need further support? Contact jobs@manchester.gov.uk for information on adjustments.
Pre-Commencement Requirements
If offered the role, you will need to provide: ⏴ Proof of Right to Work (UK-based). ⏴ References (current/previous employers). ⏴ DBS (Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service) Check.
Terms & Note
- Misleading application content (including AI-generated content) may be withdrawn.
- Our privacy policy applies to all applications; please review before submitting.
Ready to Apply?
For guidance, contact Janell Wilken: 📞 07966 282 182 📧 janell.wilken@manchester.gov.uk
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