The Officer Appointments Committee of Wiltshire Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday 6 November 2025, to discuss the appointment of a Director of Commissioning. The meeting was also scheduled to cover standard agenda items such as apologies, declarations of interest, public participation and confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting. Due to the confidential nature of the appointment, the public was scheduled to be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the appointment.

Appointment of Director – Commissioning

The main item on the agenda was the appointment of a Director – Commissioning. According to the role profile, the Director – Commissioning is responsible for the corporate management of major council services or a statutory function, providing strategic policy direction and leadership, operational management and financial control.

The Director – Commissioning is expected to:

• Work with the senior leadership team to achieve the council's priorities and goals.
• Ensure all elements of Our Identity are embedded across services.
• Ensure service structures are developed based on customer/resident needs.
• Ensure effective financial and operational management of all services and functions.
• Ensure effective partnership and stakeholder relationships across all services and functions.
• Ensure service planning is shaped by the council's key strategic plans.
• Ensure a whole Council approach is taken to corporate parenting.
• Direct the service response in the event of an emergency.

The Director – Commissioning will report to the Corporate Director Care and Wellbeing.

Key duties of the role include:

• Collaborating with partner organisations as a system leader to improve the health and wellbeing of the Wiltshire population, with a focus on addressing health inequalities and maximising inclusion.
• Identifying and delivering opportunities for increasing integration of services that improves the experience of residents who use services and unpaid carers.
• Ensuring service planning is shaped by, and takes into account the Council and ICB's key strategic plans.
• Providing advice and recommendations to the corporate leadership team of the Council and ICB¹, elected Members and ICB Board Members on significant policy decisions or complex and contentious matters within your service areas and areas of expertise.
• Contributing to the corporate management of the strategic risks facing the Council.
• Representing the Council on commissioning at regional/national level within your services areas and areas of expertise.
• Promoting and exemplifying robust decision making, which is open, inclusive, flexible and responsive.
• Growing an outstanding workforce with a can-do attitude, supported through clear career paths and development linked with robust talent and performance management.
• Embedding a culture that places customers first, adopts a can-do approach and focuses on good outcomes in our communities.
• Driving the Council's staff engagement culture and demonstrate the behaviours expected across the organisation.

The service areas for which the Director – Commissioning is responsible are:

• Strategic Commissioning – Adult Social Care
• Strategic Commissioning – Children's social care and SEND²
• Performance and Systems – Adults and Children social care and SEND

The agenda noted that the public would be excluded during the discussion of this item, because it was likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure of exempt information.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2025. At that meeting, Councillor Ian Thorn, Leader of the Council, was appointed Chairman of the committee, and Councillor Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement, and Corporate Services, was appointed Vice-Chairman. The committee also appointed Sarah Higgins as Director - Finance and Procurement.