Role: Strategic Commissioner

Duration: 3 years

Overview

As a Strategic Commissioner for Dorset Council’s Children’s Services, I have led multiple high-profile programmes and initiatives aimed at improving service delivery, achieving financial savings, and aligning with national policy changes. My work encompassed extensive data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the co-production of innovative solutions with community partners and families. I have worked across children’s social care, early help, SEND and on integrated health programmes. Latterly I took the strategic lead on digital, systems, and software needs for Children’s Services. This case study highlights key projects demonstrating my strategic and operational expertise.

Achievements

• Digital Children’s Services: Designed a digital platform for Children’s Services, utilising a multi-million-pound investment to deliver significant long-term benefits. Co-designed user journeys with families, employing a design-led methodology and Scrum for iterative development. The project aims to provide online services preferable to in-person alternatives.
• Family hubs: Leveraged a place-based approach to build capacity within the voluntary sector, enabling scalable and sustainable service delivery. Gap analysis and system design across health, local authority and VCS. See related case study for details.
• Software and systems procurement: Managed the implementation of several key systems, including SEND case management, EET tracking, engagement tools, ePEP, school information systems, and school vouchers.
• Product owner (Children’s): Social care case management, ensuring system and business intelligence development aligned with business needs.
• Professional qualification: Earned a Certificate (distinction) in Commissioning & Purchasing for Public Care from Oxford Brookes University (IPC).

Impact

• By embedding a place-based approach into the council’s commissioning process, services have become more sustainable and cheaper to deliver, ensuring long-term support in communities.
• Establishing product ownership with clear governance and roadmaps for digital solutions has led to better alignment with business needs and faster project delivery.

Skills

Analysis and design:

• Commissioning cycle: Extensive experience across the commissioning cycle (Analyse, Plan, Do, Review) with a particular strength in the analyse and planning phases.
• Gap analysis and service design: Conducted comprehensive analysis of complex systems, gap analysis and designed services including use of user pathways and personas.
• Service design and specification: Developed business cases and options appraisals (including the Treasury 5-case model) and commissioning specifications.

Programme management:

• Digital transformation: Led the design and implementation of digital platforms and systems, ensuring they meet the strategic needs of the organisation.