Senior Unplanned Care Commissioning Manager - Band 8b


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£66,582 to £77,368 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Chelmsford, CM1 1QH
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	23 Oct 2026
Closing date:	2 Nov 2026

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Summary

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation. The Unplanned Care Commissioning Team is responsible for planning, procuring, monitoring and improving services that support people who need urgent or emergency healthcare. While the precise portfolio can evolve, the team's role typically includes: Commissioning urgent and emergency care services including NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs), and Ambulance services (emergency and non-emergency transport). 2. Improving system flow Working with acute trusts, community providers, local authorities and primary care to reduce pressure on emergency departments. Support initiatives to: oReduce ambulance handover delays oImprove discharge processes oAvoid unnecessary admissions oReduce length of stay oImprove access to alternatives to ED attendance. 3. Service transformation Design and implement new pathways to improve patient outcomes and value for money as per the Essex Population Health Improvement Plan: Work with providers to support implementation of urgent and emergency care recovery plans and winter plans Develop and implement an Essex-wide approach to Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) Agree and implement an approach to commissioning Integrated Urgent Care (111, Out of Hours and UCCH) Work with providers to implement improvements in access to emergency stroke services and review options to improve stroke rehabilitation for the population of Essex Commission an Essex wide Integrated Care Transfer Hub (ICTH) Commission services to support effective Discharge to Assess service for Pathway 2 across the whole of Essex Work with partners to increase capacity for urgent, rehabilitation and reablement services at a multi-neighbourhood level Develop and commission an Essex-wide approach to an Unscheduled Care Co-ordination Hub (UCCH) Develop and commission an Essex-wide Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) The Senior Unplanned Care Commissioning Manager will work with other members of the unplanned care senior leadership team to: Lead and manage the Unplanned Care Commissioning Team, providing effective leadership, line management, appraisal, performance management and professional development to ensure delivery of a high-performing commissioning function. Lead the assessment of population need for unplanned care services across Essex, using integrated intelligence, population health management approaches and stakeholder insight to identify service gaps, inequalities, risks and opportunities for improvement. Lead annual commissioning, business and investment planning for the Unplanned Care portfolio, including prioritisation of programmes, resource allocation and delivery planning. Be responsible for oversight and management of delegated Unplanned Care budgets, ensuring effective stewardship of resources and delivery of financial, quality and operational objectives. Contribute to the development and delivery of the ICB's strategic commissioning strategy, Population Health Improvement Plan and annual planning cycle, ensuring alignment to national policy, local priorities and the NHS three strategic shifts. Lead complex commissioning, transformation and procurement programmes across the unplanned care portfolio, ensuring delivery of sustainable, high-quality services that improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities. Develop and implement innovative service models that support prevention, personalisation and the shift from hospital-based care towards neighbourhood and community-based services, drawing upon evidence-based practice, innovation and national best practice. Work in partnership with Neighbourhood Health, Planned Care, Mental Health and Complex Care commissioning teams to develop integrated pathways and service models that support care closer to home, admission avoidance and improved patient outcomes. Lead commissioning initiatives that support delivery of the Essex Population Health Improvement Plan, including priorities associated with urgent and emergency care, system flow, ageing well, frailty and admission avoidance. Ensure commissioning priorities, service redesign and transformation programmes are co-produced with people with lived experience, carers, clinicians and wider system partners. Lead procurement, contract and performance management activities across the unplanned care portfolio, ensuring providers are held to account for quality, operational, workforce and financial performance and that contractual levers are used effectively to deliver improvement. Provide strategic oversight of provider assurance and recovery planning where services are not delivering agreed outcomes or constitutional standards. Ensure all commissioning decisions comply with statutory duties, governance requirements and the ICB's decision-making framework, including completion of integrated impact assessments and equality considerations. Lead the evaluation of commissioned services and transformation programmes, using agreed outcome and benefits frameworks to assess impact, inform future investment decisions and support decommissioning or disinvestment where appropriate. Lead the development and coordination of winter planning across Essex, working closely with the Executive Director lead, the System Coordination Centre (SCC) and system partners to deliver the Essex Winter Plan and provide assurance to the ICB Board and NHS England. Provide strategic leadership for whole-system flow improvement, working collaboratively with providers and partners to improve ambulance handovers, discharge pathways, intermediate care services, urgent community response and hospital flow. Represent the ICB at senior local, regional and national forums relating to urgent and emergency care, system flow, discharge, ambulance services, community urgent care and integrated care delivery. Prepare and present high-quality reports, briefings and recommendations to senior leadership teams, executive committees, the ICB Board and NHS England. Support provider market development and shaping activities, including consideration of future commissioning models, provider collaboration arrangements and opportunities for greater integration across health and care services. As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the ICB in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan: From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning. From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health. From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below: Policy and service development Implement policy and / or service developments related to Unplanned Care, interpreting requirements from NHS strategies, including the ICB strategy and the 10 Year Health Plan Ensure compliance with relevant ICB policies Use research and innovation to inform service improvements or performance management Strategy and analysis Use of complex health data sets, including those relating to performance across activity, finance and quality to inform decision making Analysis of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to Unplanned Care Turning analysis into useful insights that can be used to inform decision making Present highly complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services Planning and organisation Develop project plans to drive delivery of complex projects relating to Unplanned Care Manage delivery against agreed project plan, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reporting Develop and oversee annual business plans for Unplanned Care Communications and Partnerships Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership Listen effectively to a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making Present information and training to large groups Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities as needed Effective engagement with patients and the public as required Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of projects that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system Share complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing Manage conflict, find compromise and build consensus where needed to drive progress in delivery Financial and resource management Responsible for supporting the management of the budget for Unplanned Care and ensuring delivery against the agreed budget Supports procurement of relevant services See attached Job Description for full information regarding the role.

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