Co-Production Lead (Adult Social Care and Housing Commissioning Service)

Salary: Grade 7, £55,101 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Location: County Hall, Taunton, with hybrid working and regular countywide travel

Closing date: 10th November 2026

This is not solely an engagement role. We are looking for a strategic co-production leader who can combine authentic partnership with people who have lived experience with the influence, assurance and organisational leadership needed to turn insight into lasting change.

About the Role

As Co-Production Lead, you will provide countywide strategic leadership for co-production across Adult Social Care and Housing. You will make sure the voices of people with lived experience, unpaid carers and seldom-heard communities shape service design, commissioning, delivery and improvement. 

You will work across Somerset Council and with NHS, community and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise partners. You will lead strategic boards, networks and forums, develop the Council’s co-production strategy and assurance framework, and provide expert advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders, commissioners and operational teams. 

The successful candidate must be credible in both parts of the role: building trusted and inclusive relationships with communities, and operating confidently at a strategic level to influence decisions, evidence impact and drive cultural and service improvement.

 How You'll Make a Difference

• Lead and coordinate co-production across Adult Social Care and Housing, with clear oversight of quality, inclusion, impact and outcomes. 
• Develop and implement a countywide co-production strategy, setting clear standards and translating good practice into sustainable organisational change. 
• Lead and strengthen strategic boards, partnerships, networks, forums and self-advocacy arrangements so lived experience genuinely influences decisions. 
• Create an assurance framework and outcome measures that demonstrate how co-production improves commissioning, service design, practice and resident outcomes. 
• Provide expert advice, support and constructive challenge to senior leaders, commissioners, providers and operational teams. 
• Build trusted relationships with people with lived experience, unpaid carers, seldom-heard groups, VCFSE organisations, NHS colleagues and wider system partners. 
• Use feedback, research and insight to identify gaps, reduce barriers to participation and shape practical improvement action. 
• Produce and present high-quality reports and assurance summaries for committees, boards, senior leaders and partnerships. 
• Manage funding associated with strategic boards, partnerships, co-production projects and self-advocacy support, ensuring resources deliver agreed outcomes. 
• Build organisational capability by developing guidance, learning resources and training on effective co-production. 

 What You'll Bring

• Demonstrable knowledge of co-production principles and approaches, including how to involve people whose voices are less often heard. 
• Experience of developing and implementing strategies or improvement programmes that have delivered measurable organisational or service change. 
• Experience of leading strategic boards, partnerships, networks or forums and using them to influence decision-making. 
• A strong record of working alongside people with lived experience, community networks and VCFSE organisations to shape services. 
• Excellent influencing, facilitation and relationship-building skills, including confidence providing constructive challenge to senior stakeholders. 
• The ability to design assurance frameworks, standards and measures, and translate qualitative and quantitative insight into improvement action. 
• Experience of managing budgets, grants or funding arrangements responsibly and against agreed outcomes. 
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, alongside evidence of continuous professional development. 
• The confidence to work independently across a complex system while building collaboration and shared ownership.

A Countywide Role 

This role works across the whole of Somerset. You will need to attend co-production forums, boards, partnership meetings and community activity in different locations, including places where public transport may be limited. Independent travel is therefore a core and regular requirement of the role, rather than an occasional expectation. 

Applicants must be able to travel independently across the county and have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes. We welcome applications from disabled candidates and will discuss reasonable adjustments from the first point of contact.

 Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life. 

• 33 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK’s most enhanced and secure pension schemes. 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow. 
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services. 
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work. 

Find out more about working at Somerset Council: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Further Information

• The primary work base is County Hall in Taunton, with remote working available where compatible with the needs of the role. 
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to attend community events or meet project commitments. 
• If you currently work for Somerset Council, please apply through the internal SuccessFactors careers page. 
• For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Vicky Chipchase, Head of Service, Quality, Performance and Assurance, via email: Vicky.Chipchase@somerset.gov.uk
• We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here:  Co-Production Lead (Adult Social Care and Housing Commissioning Service) - Job Description - RP235 

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications, so please do not delay in applying.

Req: 1223/FG