Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an organised administrator looking to support vital dental delivery in the South West. NHS Somerset is now seeking a Primary Care Commissioning Support Assistant - Dental (Agenda for Change Band 4) to join their dynamic team within the South West Collaborative Commissioning Hub. This position offers 0.6 WTE per week. In this key role, you will provide comprehensive support to the governance and performance management of the whole dental team. Your daily responsibilities will include managing the teams central inbox and processing correspondence from both contractors and the public. This role will also be involved in supporting organisation of meetings and will assume a mutually agreed specific lead role for managing a governance process. To excel, you should hold an NVQ Level 4 or equivalent proven administrative experience, possess intermediate IT skills (Microsoft Office), and display an understanding of strict Data Protection Act guidelines. We are looking for a clear communicator who remains calm under pressure, multitasks seamlessly, and takes initiative to meet tight deadlines. Join us to help shape regional dental services and champion core NHS values.
Main duties of the job
Are you an organized administrative professional looking to make a meaningful impact on local healthcare? We are seeking a Primary Care Commissioning Support Assistant (Contracting and Governance) to join our dynamic team within the South West Collaborative Commissioning Hub. In this vital role, you will work closely with our Programme Manager to provide high-quality administrative, secretarial, and governance support. You will focus specifically on supporting the commissioning and contracting of dental services across the whole South West Region. We are a "team of teams" that deeply values diversity, inclusion, and a healthy work-life balance. We support agile, flexible ways of working, meaning your week will feature a blend of home working and office presence. If you are a calm, efficient multi-tasker with intermediate IT skills and a commitment to reducing health inequalities, we want to hear from you.
Details
- Date posted: 02 November 2026
- Closing date: 18 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 4
- Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: D9467-JD420
- Job locations: NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, NHS Dorset - County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please also refer to the attached detailed Job Description.
This role is focused on supporting the commissioning and contracting of dental services, with a specific focus on contracting and governance working closely with the Programme Manager (Planning, Performance and Governance) to administratively support projects and areas of work within this scope.
The role will:
Provide and coordinate administrative and secretarial services to the Head of Primary Care Commissioning & Transformation and team, and consistently deliver a service which promotes good customer service and effective working relationships.
This will include:
Preparation of meetings, agendas, and minutes, taking appropriate follow-up action as required.
Support the dental commissioning team with the management of contracts and projects.
Gathering information and undertaking enquiries as and when is necessary.
Managing communication and correspondence from members of the public and contractors.
As a Primary Care Commissioning Support Assistant (Contracting and Governance), the post holder will work as part of a dynamic team within the South West Collaborative Commissioning Hub, delivering an effective service supporting managers and staff across the Hub, ICBs, and the wider South West.
The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.
Person Specification
Skills, abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Please also see attached Person Specification.
- Experience of working in a contract/commissioning team.
- Significant administrative/ secretarial experience including initiating and maintaining office systems.
- Demonstrable experience in dealing with the public and dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
- Intermediate knowledge of IT systems and software programmes such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
- Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act.
- Knowledge of NHS issues.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
Qualifications
Essential
- Please also see attached Person Specification.
- Educated to NVQ 4 level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent previous proven experience.
- Experience
Experience
Essential
- Please also see attached Person Specification.
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, data entry and presentation skills: capable of constructing and delivering clear information/ instructions to staff and service users.
- Ability to work at pace in a busy working environment and able to multi-task.
- Effective team working.
- Minute taking.
- Ability to work without supervision.
- Able to work on own initiative, organising changing and often tight deadlines.
- Professional, calm, and efficient manner
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
About us
Under the Model ICB Blueprint and the 10 Year Health Plan, ICBs will adopt a more strategic commissioning role, focusing on population needs, reducing inequalities, and delivering the three shifts as defined in the 10 year health plan, all while operating within strict financial limits.
The new organisation will operate on a larger scale with a revised vision and purpose, managing a commissioning budget of around £8 billion. Our role as a strategic commissioner is to transform our local NHS through exceptional commissioning and build an innovative health system fit for the 21st century that truly meets our communities needs. Informed by high quality data and insights, we will radically re-imagine how we operate, making sure that every pound in our system delivers the best possible value for everyone we serve.
We will encourage and support our people to grow and develop new skills and embrace new agile ways of working. Everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas, seek feedback, and take part in creating a listening and learning culture where insight leads to improvement.
We will work as a team of teams, collaborating across services and professions to deliver the best outcomes for our communities. You will be encouraged, and expected to model inclusive behaviours, valuing diverse perspectives and helping to create a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to thrive.
Employer details
- Employer name: NHS Dorset
- Address: NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, NHS Dorset - County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/