Brokerage Officer - SEND

This Brokerage Officer post sits within Cheshire East Council's commissioning function and focuses on children and young people with SEND. The work is sourcing and negotiating education, health and social care packages, such as specialist placements and therapies, that match each child's EHC Plan and offer value for money. The role combines frameworks and spot purchasing with costed business cases and contract preparation, and it requires travel across the borough, with hybrid working possible.

Experience of brokerage, commissioning or SEND contract negotiation is central to fit.

• Source and negotiate SEND provision, including independent and specialist education, alternative provision elements, therapies and home or community support, checking suitability, cost and start dates
• Turn EHC Plans and assessments into outcome-focused specifications for providers, seeking innovative options where markets are tight
• Use frameworks and spot purchasing, gathering multiple quotes and applying commercial judgement within agreed tolerances
• Prepare costed proposals and business cases covering options, risks, mitigations and value for money
• Prepare contracts after placement, including KPIs, review points, safeguarding contacts and data sharing, and keep accurate, secure records
• Monitor in-year performance signals such as missed sessions, complaints and incidents with commissioning and QA colleagues, recommending remedial action

• Experience of procurement, commissioning or SEND
• Demonstrable experience in brokerage and/or commissioning
• Experience of contract negotiation in SEND, education, health or social care

• Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice basics and EHC Plan components
• Knowledge of safeguarding and light-touch procurement principles
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Ability to work on own initiative within set parameters
• Flexible approach
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough

• 34 days annual leave from day one, rising to 39 after five years, with the option to buy up to 10 extra days a year
• 37-hour standard full-time week with flexi-time and hybrid or remote working where possible
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme
• Salary sacrifice white goods and electronics scheme
• Enhanced career average pension at 1/49th of pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free confidential employee assistance programme
• Discounted Everybody Leisure membership