Senior Health Commissioning Manager - Families First Partnership Programme

We are seeking an experienced senior commissioning leader to play a pivotal role in delivering the Family First Partnership Programme across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

The role

This is a high-impact role where you will act as the leading voice for NHS commissioning and safeguarding, driving integration across health, local authority and voluntary sector partners.Working closely with system leaders, you will translate strategic priorities into tangible improvements in child health services and outcomes for children, young people and families.

About the Programme

The Family First Partnership Programme brings together partners across the

Integrated Care System (ICS) to

• Improve outcomes for children, young people and families
• Integrate child health services
• Embed safeguarding in all commissioning activity
• Tackle inequalities and deliver sustainable service pathways

Key Responsibilities

• As Senior Health Commissioning Manager, you will:
• Lead the delivery of commissioning priorities for child health services across the ICS
• Act as the key link between NHS commissioning and local authority programme leads
• Translate strategy into clear, deliverable plans with measurable outcomes
• Ensure commissioned services meet quality, safeguarding, statutory and financial requirements
• Undertake population health analysis to identify service gaps and inform change
• Build strong partnerships across NHS, local authority and voluntary sector organisations
• Lead engagement with families, carers and people with lived experience to shape services
• Represent the programme at senior forums and multi-agency partnerships

The ideal candidate

You are a senior, strategic commissioning leader with extensive experience in children’s health and care, capable of operating effectively within complex, multi-agency environments spanning health, local authority, and voluntary sector systems.You bring a strong track record of leading transformation, influencing at senior levels, and delivering measurable improvements in outcomes for children, young people, and families.

You are confident navigating ambiguity and complexity, working across organisational boundaries to align priorities, resources, and delivery.You combine deep subject matter expertise with strong strategic insight, enabling you to translate national policy, safeguarding responsibilities, and integrated care system priorities into practical, high-impact commissioning solutions.You are equally comfortable leading programmes, shaping service models, and providing assurance at senior governance forums.

You are highly collaborative in approach, building trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, commissioners, local authority leaders, and community partners.You are committed to co-production, ensuring that the voices of children, families, and carers are central to service design and improvement.With excellent communication, analytical, and decision-making skills, you are able to balance competing demands, manage risk, and drive sustainable, system-wide change.

Important

Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person'as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Working Arrangements - A minimum of 2 days per week office based in line with PCC policy.

Contact

Details for an Informal Discussion

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Luke Varndell - luke.varndell@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Please note

We are unable to offer sponsorship on this role

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.