Job Details
Kingston Upon Thames are currently looking for a Senior Broker who is willing to join their team and ensure that all care and support is given to those within the local council.
Role purpose:
This role is responsible for ensuring that the council purchases care and support whether in the community or in residential/nursing homes that is appropriate to need and quality and represents value for money to the Council utilising the frameworks and commercial arrangements that have been set up. It is also responsible for advice, guidance and commissioning services for self funders as a paid service. Payment for services will be the responsibility of the person or their carer. This role works with the Strategy and Transformation team and ASC Operations team to inform commissioning strategies and business plans and ensure a continued focus on reducing inequalities.
Key activities:
● Works with manager and colleagues to define outcomes, set targets and monitor
performance, within a culture of continual improvement
● Supports operational plans to ensure that the resources within the teams are used to best effect and impact Customers and Partners
● Builds strong internal and external working partnerships to enable the service to be delivered in an outcome-focused and efficient way
● Supports Kingston’s commitment to community cohesion and valuing diversity and social inclusion Digital/New Ways of Working
● Uses new technologies, particularly Google, to adopt modern, agile working
practices, improve customer service and eliminating paper-based processes wherever possible.
Delivery
● Leads on the management of daily referrals for care packages assigning them to
officers as appropriate
● Ensure packages of care and support are set up that can meet the aspirations and needs for the service user, through call-off processes from established framework
agreements, commissioned services, and direct negotiation (as appropriate).
● Develop the use of frameworks and other agreements to improve outcomes, and
ensure utilisation and costs effectiveness is achieved
● Lead complex negotiations with service providers and agree any variations to fees and payment arrangements
● Leads on the provision of advice, guidance and sourcing services for self funders as a paid service
● Leads on partnership working with ASC Operational teams, and relevant
professionals, to prioritise and monitor cases that have been approved and ensure services are brokered in the prescribed timeframes, budget and quality. Ensure all parties are kept informed of progress for sourcing services
● Act as subject matter expert on services, market demands, service providers and any relevant regulations or good practise
● Develops an excellent understanding of the market and builds working relationships with local service providers to enable identification of gaps in provision to inform future commissioning,as lead contact for the service
● Proactive identification of improvement areas for service providers and works in partnership with service providers to implement these
● Establishes and leads Provider Forums and promotes good communication, information sharing and partnership working with all providers
● Escalates concerns about service quality to the Councils governance framework
● Advises and enables any necessary action required to manage suspensions or
provider failure that will impact service delivery
● Manage the maintenance of records and systems for monitoring vacancies,
allocations and placements across ASC to ensure utilisation and costs effectiveness is achieved.
In order to successfully deliver the responsibilities of the role, you will need to:
● Question and challenge ways of working, with an understanding of the bigger picture in terms of the corporate context and external environment
● Demonstrate agility and adaptability in mindset and ways of working
● Demonstrate commitment to own personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the role
● Demonstrate innovation and creativity
● Actively engage in positive cross organisational communications and team working
● Communicate clearly, confidently and appropriately with colleagues using the best methods of communication for the task
● Knowledge of client groups and care markets
● Negotiation and influencing skills
● Experience of the Care Act 2014
● Building effective relationships with relevant professionals and key stakeholders
● Knowledge of Safeguarding ASC procedures and when to instigate them
● Understanding and awareness of key legislation for Public Sector social care,
including health, housing and social care
Hours Per Week: 36 hours
Pay Per Hour: £31.21 Umbrella
