Overview

Are you passionate about improving care services and ensuring quality for vulnerable residents? We're looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Quality and Contracts Officer to join our Adults and Health Commissioning and Procurement team. This role is central to ensuring that commissioned care and support providers deliver high-quality, value-for-money services that meet the needs of Buckinghamshire's communities. You'll work closely with providers, health and social care professionals, and regulatory bodies to monitor performance, drive improvements, and support effective contract management. Our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub ensures collaboration with our clients to develop and execute a procurement strategy to achieve their defined success criteria. We bring together experiences and lessons learned to ensure the most effective approach. Our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub supports all stages of the commercial lifecycle, complementing client teams to maximise value.

As a Quality and Contracts Officer, you will

• Lead quality and contract management activities across a portfolio of care and support providers.
• Conduct monitoring visits, analyse performance data, and identify areas of risk or underperformance.
• Collaborate with providers and partners to support service improvement and ensure compliance with regulations and contractual expectations.
• Engage with service users and carers to gather feedback and inform service development.
• Support commercial practices, including streamlined financial arrangements and administration.
• Contribute to the development of frameworks, processes, and guidance for effective contract and quality oversight.
• Participate in internal quality assurance activities and wider service improvement projects.

This role requires strong relationship-building skills, analytical thinking, and a commitment to continuous improvement in care provision.

Note: As an 'any-desk' worker, you'll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

• Substantial experience in contract management, commissioning, or quality assurance within health or social care.
• Strong knowledge of care systems, regulatory frameworks, and procurement legislation.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to lead challenging conversations.
• Proven ability to analyse data, identify risks, and develop practical solutions.
• Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office and specialist systems such as CMA, PAMMS, and Power BI.
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, and a relevant professional qualification (e.g. CIPS, Commissioning Academy, Prince2).
• A full driving licence is required to be able to carry out the role.
• This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare: All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions.

Organization and Values

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are focused on the future and have a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. We have a set of values—Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy—chosen by our employees.

What you can expect

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us. We are committed to being an accessible and inclusive organisation. From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, we want all colleagues to feel engaged, listened to, and valued. We offer flexible working to empower a productive and happy workforce and encourage our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve in Buckinghamshire.

Benefits include flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on cafés, restaurants, shops, pension scheme with auto enrolment, membership to Costco, discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva, and more.