About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive individual with strong administrative, governance and project support skills. You will be confident managing competing priorities, handling complex information and building effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
As a Contracts Support Officer within the Finance & Commercial Directorate, you will support the systems, processes and governance that underpin healthcare commissioning and contract management.
Working within a supportive team, you will contribute to innovation, value and improved outcomes across health and care services. The role offers exposure to commercial, contracting and transformation activities while working with colleagues and partners across the wider system.
If you enjoy working with information, supporting decision-making and helping improve public services, this could be the role for you.
In return, you will join an organisation committed to inclusion, learning and improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.
Main duties of the job
This role would suit an organised and motivated individual looking to develop a career in NHS commissioning, contracting or commercial management while making a meaningful contribution to improving services for the people of Essex.
The Contracts Support Officer plays a key role in supporting the Commercial Team to deliver effective contract management, governance and reporting arrangements across a range of NHS commissioned services
Key responsibilities include:
Supporting contract management, governance and reporting processes across the Finance and Commercial Directorate.
Ensuring that contracts, records and commercial processes are managed efficiently, accurately and in line with organisational requirements.
Maintaining accurate records, contract documentation and information within contract management systems.
Assisting with the preparation of reports, briefings and performance information to support decision-making.
Coordinating meetings, preparing agendas, capturing minutes and monitoring actions and decisions.
Supporting the development and implementation of commercial policies, procedures and service improvements.
Working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners across the health and care system.
Contributing to contract renewals, procurement activity and annual planning processes.
Supporting projects and transformation initiatives that improve health services and outcomes for local communities.
About us
NHS Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and funding of NHS services for around 1.9 million people across Essex. Our role as an ICB is to bring health and care services together, improve the health and wellbeing of our population and ensure equitable access to services and outcome for everyone. The organisations headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model (2 office-based days) that includes working across Essex and from home. Essex ICB currently has offices in Brentwood, Harlow and Colchester, in addition to the Chelmsford HQ.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We know that different experiences, ideas and perspectives help create a stronger and more innovative organisation that delivers better outcomes for patients. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people of all ages, disabilities, sex, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Our policies ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.
Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsorship licence.
Job description Job responsibilities
ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY
The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.
Our Commercial team sits within the Finance and Commercial Directorate and delivers on all aspects of contracting, including information, provider relationships and managing our outsourced procurement arrangements. This is an exciting time for the NHS as we move towards delivery of the 10 year health plan, managing new contractual models and driving value and outcomes for the residents of Essex.
Our Contract Support Officer form part of our Commercial Team responsible for delivering the safe establishment of management, monitoring and reporting arrangements around the services we require for our population. These roles are fundamental to the smooth running of the commercial function and will work supportively across the team to deliver across a variety of areas. These roles will ensure governance and good record keeping across our commercial function.
As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Director of Commercial in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:
From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:
Policy and service development
Support implementation of policy and / or service developments related to commercial activitiesSupport team to ensure compliance with relevant ICB policiesCompletes surveys or evaluations to support policy implementation
Strategy and analysis
Understanding of complex data relating to activity and contract metricsHelps present insights and prepare contracting schedules, drawing on complex data, that can be used to inform decision making and deliveryUse of data and insight to contribute to reporting, including performance management, financial and quality reporting against agreed contractual or project deliverables
Planning and organisation
Support effective contract governance arrangements.Organisation of the contracts database and regular review of the procurement pipeline and waivers records.Support the planning and monitoring of small scale arrangements.Support with drafting contract documentation and contract variations as required.Support coordination of meetings and events to support delivery of contract conversations.Capturing effective minutes, actions and decisions from meetings and eventsManage competing priorities, prioritizing own resources to effectively deliver agreed tasks or projectsMaintain accurate reporting and records management through the use of the Atamis SystemSupport the commercial team to prepare for the annual planning cycle, ensuring methodical approach to contract renewals in line with relevant national guidance.
Communications and Partnerships
Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate behavioursSupports development of high quality written and verbal briefingsBuild strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB as neededSupports effective engagement with patients and the public as requiredWork effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to help deliver agreed projects / manage directorateEffective management of complex, sensitive and challenging information
Financial and resource management
Supports procurement of relevant services
Team management and capability building
Supporting directorate oversight of workforce reporting, including reporting on key HR metricsSupports wider understanding of projects across the ICB and systemAble to influence in order to deliver effectively through othersSupport the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB BlueprintWork collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangementsMaintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transitionSupporting effective Information Asset Management for the team
Other
Use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of the rolePrimarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetingsAble to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel)
Flexibility and evolving responsibilities
As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:
-ICB senior leaders
-Team members
-Finance business partners
-Information Governance Team
-HR business partners
-Business Managers
-System partners
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Degree level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience Or Diploma plus evidence of additional training/experience to support the requirements of the role Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development
Partnerships & Communities Essential
Experience working across teams and organisations in the development and delivery of projects Able to effective influencing and challenge within areas of responsibility, escalating appropriately where necessary
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a relevant healthcare environment (NHS or other) Experience working in relevant commissioning functions as outlined in the ICB model blueprint Experience arrangement meetings, preparing agendas and delivering effective minutes from meetings Experience managing complex and often confidential information
Governance and Assurance Essential
Experience supporting delivery of projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations
People & Culture Essential
Providing supervision for junior staff within a team Acts as a positive, compassionate and inclusive team member, demonstrating commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity A commitment to continuous improvement, organisation learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers working in line with the NHS People Promise
Strategy & Analysis Essential
Able to present information clearly to support decision making Understanding of the importance of evaluation and audits to support improvement Experience using proven project management tools
Personal Attributes and Values Essential
Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan, the Nolan Principles, to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wide health system A good understanding effective corporate governance and the route for decision making within the ICB Able to work as part of a team and independently Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Self-motivated, confident and positive attitude, able to adapt to complex and constantly changing environments and prioritise workload within that context Advanced IT skills in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and excellent keyboarding skills
Employer details Employer name NHS Essex Integrated Care Board
Address Seax House
Victoria Road South
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.essex.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)