Job summary
We are looking for an experienced children's health professional for the role of Designated Clinical Officer Special Educational Needs (DCO) - West Sussex. As DCO you will be a key point of contact for the local authority, education setting, health providers and families, ensuring that health provision in EHCPs is timely, high quality and child centred. You will a registered clinical professional in Nursing or as an Allied Health Professional. You will have extensive experience of working in partnership with colleagues in education, specifically related to SEND. You will have a strong understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and relevant legislation. You will have excellent communication skills with the ability to work across organisational boundaries. You will have leadership skills with the confidence to challenge, advocate and innovate.
This is a part time fixed term post for one year. The banding 8a is indicative and will be confirmed following completion of the job matching process.
The role will be based at a location within West Sussex, with options discussed with the successful candidate.
Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will bringa high levelofexpertisefrom either a therapy, (OT, PT or SLT) or children's nursing background to provide advice,educationand support to the local SEND system.
- The role of the DCO will be crucial in helping tofacilitatethe collaborative approachrequiredin the SEND reforms and define the role of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in the delivery of the services to children and young people with SEN and Disabilities and help develop a clear implementation plan.
- The post holder will work with the Clinical Heads of Service, local health service leads and West Sussex Local Authority to ensure health's compliance with the delivery of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms and so support the service to meet statutory responsibilities for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 in West Sussex.
- Identifyand engage with key stakeholders in the SEN and Disability system.
- Support workforce development and awareness of the SEN and Disability reforms, including the development of training for health teams.
- Oversee local Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan process and lead on quality control of this process and act as point of contact for enquires relating to this, attending EHC panels.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holderwill lead on the clinical and operational delivery and management of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) forSCFT ensuring that children and young people of West Sussex experience the best possible quality of services, clinical outcomes, and patient experience when they interface with health and care providers.
The post holder will lead on SEND and contribute towards the SEND self-assessment and inspection framework with Local Authority partners across West Sussex, including meeting and evidencingstatutory and regulatory standards within the services being commissioned.
Lead the development and implementation of local and Pan-Sussex SEND operational policies/procedures.
Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively and collaboratively with partner agencies and professionals in health, social services, education, and the voluntary sector to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults/ children.
Work collaboratively with team leader colleagues to ensure SENDobjectivesand action plans are met.
Ensure theappropriate datais inputted to theappropriate standardby the team. Oversee and collect, collate, analyse, and takeappropriate actionto enable efficient service development and delivery e.g., audits.
Act as an exemplar for the SEND vision within Sussex.
Enable and empower staff to develop ideas for increased efficiencies, managing partnerships to be ambitious but realistic in achieving the best performance levels.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holderwill lead on the clinical and operational delivery and management of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) forSCFT ensuring that children and young people of West Sussex experience the best possible quality of services, clinical outcomes, and patient experience when they interface with health and care providers.
The post holder will lead on SEND and contribute towards the SEND self-assessment and inspection framework with Local Authority partners across West Sussex, including meeting and evidencingstatutory and regulatory standards within the services being commissioned.
Lead the development and implementation of local and Pan-Sussex SEND operational policies/procedures.
Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively and collaboratively with partner agencies and professionals in health, social services, education, and the voluntary sector to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults/ children.
Work collaboratively with team leader colleagues to ensure SENDobjectivesand action plans are met.
Ensure theappropriate datais inputted to theappropriate standardby the team. Oversee and collect, collate, analyse, and takeappropriate actionto enable efficient service development and delivery e.g., audits.
Act as an exemplar for the SEND vision within Sussex.
Enable and empower staff to develop ideas for increased efficiencies, managing partnerships to be ambitious but realistic in achieving the best performance levels.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or Registered AHP with extensive experience working with children.
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in specialist field
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with a disability, developmental need or learning need.
- Evidence of leadership skills
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage clinical governance inc risks, incidents, complaints and standards
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or Registered AHP with extensive experience working with children.
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in specialist field
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with a disability, developmental need or learning need.
- Evidence of leadership skills
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage clinical governance inc risks, incidents, complaints and standards
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
