Assistant Director Commissioning – Live Well
London Borough of Islington
About The Role
Are you an experienced senior leader in health and social care commissioning, with a passion for tackling inequality and improving outcomes for working age adults?
We are seeking an Assistant Director of Commissioning (Live Well) to provide maternity cover for a key senior leadership role within Islington Council’s Health and Social Care Department.
Our ambition
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
In Adult Social Care our vision is for Islington to be a place made up of strong, inclusive and connected communities, where regardless of background, people have fair and equal access to adult social care support that enables residents to live healthy, fulfilling and independent lives.
About the role
As Assistant Director of Commissioning (Live Well), you will be a senior system leader with responsibility for driving good outcomes for people who draw on care and support in the borough. You will provide strategic leadership for the commissioning of services for working age adults, covering areas such as mental health, learning and physical disabilities, and supported housing.
You will be a key member of the Health and Social Care Senior Management Team, and part of the team that leads the Strategic Commissioning and Communities Team. You will be leading a high functioning and skilled team who understand their roles and portfolios well. You will work closely with partners across health, public health, the voluntary and community sector, and provider markets.
This is a high impact role, leading a large multidisciplinary commissioning team and overseeing significant pooled budgets under Section 75 partnership arrangements, ensuring strong governance, financial control and delivery of high quality, outcomes focused services for the people of Islington.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Providing strategic leadership for commissioned adult services, ensuring alignment across health and social care
- Leading and managing commissioning budgets, including pooled Section 75 arrangements, delivering value for money and financial sustainability
- Driving service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement in response to local need, policy change and system pressures
- Building strong, credible relationships with senior stakeholders, including councillors, NHS leaders, providers and regional partners
- Championing strengths-based, person-centred approaches and embedding coproduction and equity throughout the commissioning cycle
- Leading, developing and supporting senior managers and commissioning teams to deliver high performance and positive culture
About you
You will be an accomplished senior leader with substantial experience of strategic -commissioning within local government, the NHS or a comparable public sector environment. You will bring:
- A strong understanding of health and social care systems and the interdependencies between them
- A proven track record of leading complex change, managing significant budgets and delivering system‑wide improvement
- Experience of partnership working across statutory, voluntary and independent sectors
- Credibility and confidence to operate at senior political and executive levels
- A clear commitment to tackling inequality, promoting inclusion and improving outcomes for residents
Why join us?
This is a unique opportunity to step into a senior leadership role at the heart of Islington’s integrated health and care system, making a real difference to the lives of working age adults while contributing to wider system transformation.
We are committed to agile working, supporting flexible arrangements wherever possible, and fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace.
Closing date: Sunday 17th May 2026 at 23:59
Interviews: May 2026
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ellie Chesterman at [email protected]
Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.
We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.
We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
Pre‑Employment Checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:
- Proof of address
- Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
- Right to work in the UK
- Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
- Satisfactory references
- Occupational Health clearance
- Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
- DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)
