Senior Children’s Commissioning Officer – Early Help
Closing in 14 days (22 January 2026 11:59 pm)
Job details
Salary: £41,771 to £46,142 per annum
Employer: Somerset Council
Location: Taunton, Somerset,
Contract type: Fixed term
Working pattern: Full time
Closing date: 22 January 2026 11:59 pm
About the job
Key information
- Fixed Term Contract until 30/06/2027.
- Grade 9: £41,771 to £46,142 per annum.
- Hybrid working available.
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
What will I be doing?
You will play a vital role in shaping services that improve life chances for children and young people across Somerset.
The role will lead commissioning activity for Early Help, ensuring services are effective, efficient and aligned with the Children and Young People’s Plan. You will work strategically across Somerset’s Integrated Care System, championing a joined up approach to health and care within the community.
Working closely with partners across health, education, and the voluntary sector, you will champion co-production, embedding the voice of children and families in service design. You’ll be responsible for managing budgets, negotiating with providers, and driving innovation to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Your influence will be at a strategic level, ensuring public funds deliver real impact for children and support a resilient early help offer. This will help to foster a culture of positive partnership working across a complex system
This is a highly creative role where you will shape services for children and families, working collaboratively with senior leaders and partners to deliver meaningful change.
This role is available on a secondment opportunity until 30/06/2027, with the potential for extension (subject to funding). You will be based in Taunton with a requirement to travel county wide.
What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?
We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But the follow criteria is required:
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification.
- Experience in commissioning and programme delivery.
- Strong knowledge of statutory frameworks and policy development.
- Skilled in partnership working and influencing at senior levels.
- Excellent financial and people management skills.
- Have the willingness to champion new approaches and share best practice.
We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.
We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.
What is in it for me?
We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.
We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:
- We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
- Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
- Staff discounts in gyms.
- Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
- Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
- A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
- My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more…
DBS check
This role requires DBS Clearance via the Online Disclosure Procedure.
Supporting documents and information
When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Laura Annandale on 07887722906 or via email at laura.annandale@somerset.gov.uk
If you are wanting to secure this as a secondment it is strongly encouraged that you seek support for the secondment in advance of making an application.
If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button – we can’t wait to hear from you.