Location: Ipswich
Client: Suffolk County Council – Children and Young People’s Services
Contract Type: Temporary (6 months)
Hours: Full-time – 37 hours per week (09:00 – 17:00)
Working Pattern: Hybrid – 2 days in office
Salary: £17.29
About the Role
This role sits within the Inclusion Service under the Provider Services team. The Specialist Provision Officer plays a vital role in supporting commissioning and contract management activities related to alternative and specialist provision for children and young people with SEND.
You will work closely with Specialist Provision Managers and Officers to ensure providers deliver high-quality outcomes, support contract compliance and monitoring, and manage risk, performance, and cost-effectiveness. The role involves handling sensitive data, supporting training and guidance on systems use, and collaborating across teams and agencies to support operational delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Management
- Support the development and implementation of contract management systems in line with council guidelines.
- Issue and administer individual placement contracts in coordination with the Specialist Placement Coordinator.
- Benchmark service costs and scrutinise placements for value for money.
- Monitor contract performance and escalate underperformance.
- Maintain reporting systems and track contractual changes to ensure service quality and financial compliance.
- Contribute to managing the contract budget and monitoring actual expenditure.
- Assist with developing service specifications aligned with legal, policy, and stakeholder needs.
- Ensure co-production and stakeholder involvement in commissioning.
- Support compliance with Suffolk County Council’s commissioning standards and contribute to a collaborative commissioning approach.
- Work within statutory frameworks and council guidelines.
- Collate and manage information resources to support service delivery.
- Provide training and support for accurate data recording and system use.
- Monitor national policies and assist in local implementation.
- Produce statutory and internal reports.
- Analyse data sets to identify trends and inform decision-making.
- Ensure data accuracy to support service planning and contract delivery.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners.
- Liaise with providers and stakeholders to facilitate effective service provision.
- Participate in multi-agency meetings and contribute to strategic planning.
- Recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns.
- Ensure confidentiality and adherence to data protection regulations.
- Promote equality, best value, and council values in all activities.
- Understanding of special educational needs (SEN), alternative provision, and the SEND reforms (2014).
- Knowledge of local disability and children’s services.
- Experience with service improvement, commissioning, or quality assurance.
- Previous involvement in partnership working and collaborative practice.
- Familiarity with contract management and budget tracking is desirable.
- Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and Excel.
- Accurate data handling and report writing abilities.
- Effective verbal and written communication across varied stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills.
- Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Able to manage own workload, meet deadlines, and prioritise tasks.
- Comfortable learning new digital tools and working with complex datasets.
- Strong interpersonal skills with sensitivity to diversity and safeguarding issues.
- Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Willingness to travel for work. A full UK driving licence and access to transport is preferred.
- Commitment to Suffolk County Council’s WE ASPIRE values and high standards of customer service.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Understanding of data protection, confidentiality, and safeguarding policies.
If you are interested in the role and would like to contact me for further information on the role you can contact myself on the details below.
At Service Care Solutions we also offer a £250 bonus for referrals! If you think you know someone who would be ideal for this role and they are placed in the job you will then receive £250 at the end of their probationary period.
To apply for this role, or to refer someone else, then please do not hesitate to contact Jack at Service Care Solutions on 01772208964 or email on Jack.Lonsdale@Servicecare.org.uk
