Job Details
Job Title
Senior Broker – Adult Social Care
Service Area
Adult Social Care
Job Purpose
To coordinate the brokering and commissioning of social care services on behalf of Adult Social Care for residents with assessed social care needs. The role ensures that appropriate, timely, and cost-effective care and support arrangements are sourced, negotiated, and secured in line with statutory duties, local procedures, and NHS England discharge guidance.
The post holder will play a key role in facilitating timely hospital discharges and responding to community referrals, working closely with health partners, care providers, and internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Brokerage and Commissioning
• Coordinate the sourcing, negotiation, and commissioning of care and support services for adults with social care needs.
• Use knowledge of client groups, care pathways, and the local care market to identify appropriate placements and care packages.
• Negotiate with providers to achieve value for money while ensuring quality and suitability of care.
• Ensure commissioned services meet assessed needs and are compliant with relevant policies and frameworks.
Hospital Discharge
• Facilitate referrals for residents ready for discharge from hospital in line with NHS England guidance.
• Respond within 3 hours of a resident being optimised for discharge to secure appropriate care arrangements.
• Support discharge activity 7 days a week between 8:00am and 5:30pm, ensuring timely and effective transitions from hospital to community settings.
• Work collaboratively with hospital teams, discharge hubs, and partner organisations to reduce delays and prevent unnecessary hospital stays.
Community Referrals
• Respond promptly to community-based referrals requiring the sourcing and purchasing of care and support.
• Identify suitable care settings, including home care, residential, nursing, and specialist provision, based on assessed needs.
• Ensure timely placement to prevent escalation, admission, or breakdown of existing care arrangements.
Professional Practice and Collaboration
• Act as a senior point of contact for complex brokerage cases and placement challenges.
• Maintain effective working relationships with providers, social work teams, health colleagues, and commissioning teams.
• Ensure accurate recording, monitoring, and reporting of brokerage activity.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of brokerage processes and market engagement.
Working Hours
This role operates on a rota basis to support service delivery:
• Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:15pm
• Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
• Bank Holidays: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential:
• Experience of brokerage, commissioning, placements, or care purchasing within Adult Social Care or a related setting.
• Strong understanding of Adult Social Care systems, hospital discharge processes, and care pathways.
• Knowledge of the local care market and experience negotiating with providers.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meet tight timescales.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organisational skills.
Desirable:
• Experience working within a local authority or integrated health and social care setting.
• Experience handling complex or urgent hospital discharge cases.
• Knowledge of NHS England discharge guidance and integrated discharge models.
Values and Behaviours
• Commitment to person-centred practice
• Professional judgement and accountability
• Collaborative and solution-focused approach
• Focus on quality, efficiency, and value for money
