East London NHS Foundation Trust

Designated Clinical Officer - SEND

The closing date is 19 October 2025

Job summary

Specialist Children's and Young People's Services (SCYPS)- Newham SEND Designated Clinical Officer - 12 month Secondment

We are dedicated to providing inclusive, high-quality healthcare support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled health care practitioner with experience of SEND from either a therapy/AHP/or Nursing profession, to join our multidisciplinary team and support the health and wellbeing of our learners.

The SEND Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) will provide expert clinical advice, support, and care coordination for children and young people with SEND. You will work closely with educators, families, and healthcare professionals to ensure effective delivery of healthcare and promotion of of the well-being of SEND pupils.

Within a 12 month secondment - this post allows a development opportunity for the successful candidate.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will bring a high level of expertise from either a therapy, (OT, PT or SLT) or children's nursing background to provide advice, education and support to the local SEND system.

The role of the DCO will be crucial in helping to facilitate the collaborative approach required in 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 Head of Therapies, Designated Medical Officer (DMO), local health service leads and 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.

Working together with the Head of therapies and DMO they will:

Identify and 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 also act as point of contact for enquires relating to this, attending EHC panels.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year per annum

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-SS7486569

Job locations

West Ham Lane Child Development Centre

84, west Ham Lane, London

London

E15 4PT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Working together with the Head of therapies and DMO they will:

Identify and 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 also act as point of contact for enquires relating to this.

Attend the weekly SEND EHC panels with LBN to share health information and take part in joint decision making with Multi agency team.

Work to improve the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

To work in collaboration with the LBN Local Authorities, health commissioners and health providers with regards to the SEND Tribunal: single route of redress national trial.

Contribute to the development of the health information on the Local offer

Oversee and organise SEND training for health professionals working in ELFT and deliver some of this training in partnership with SEND therapy/nursing leads.

To be a clinical expert in the resources available to meet children and young peoples health needs and to be able to provide information, advice, guidance and support for families, health care practitioners and local agencies.

Ensure excellent partnership working and coordination for children and young people with an EHCP; to support transition to adult services as appropriate

Contribute to the strategic integrated commissioning of SEND and Disability services for children and young people 0-25 years including the 0-5 early years and 19-25-year-old groups

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working together with the Head of therapies and DMO they will:

Identify and 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 also act as point of contact for enquires relating to this.

Attend the weekly SEND EHC panels with LBN to share health information and take part in joint decision making with Multi agency team.

Work to improve the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

To work in collaboration with the LBN Local Authorities, health commissioners and health providers with regards to the SEND Tribunal: single route of redress national trial.

Contribute to the development of the health information on the Local offer

Oversee and organise SEND training for health professionals working in ELFT and deliver some of this training in partnership with SEND therapy/nursing leads.

To be a clinical expert in the resources available to meet children and young peoples health needs and to be able to provide information, advice, guidance and support for families, health care practitioners and local agencies.

Ensure excellent partnership working and coordination for children and young people with an EHCP; to support transition to adult services as appropriate

Contribute to the strategic integrated commissioning of SEND and Disability services for children and young people 0-25 years including the 0-5 early years and 19-25-year-old groups

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • oOccupational therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and language therapist or Nursing qualification at degree level or equivalent
  • oHealth Professions council license to practice/NMC membership
  • oDemonstrable understanding of the required specialist knowledge and CPD
  • oEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

  • oExpert clinical experience within a healthcare environment.
  • oExtensive and recent experience of work with children with SEND/developmental delay
  • oExtensive and recent experience of work relating to CAMHS and CYP Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath
  • oExperience of working effectively in partnership with multiple agencies and with stakeholders
  • oService development and improvement experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to use own judgement and initiative to prioritise own work load.
  • oAbility to work effectively independently and as part of a team.
  • oGood communication skills with Families and colleagues.
  • oProblem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
  • oAbility to negotiate on difficult and complex/ detailed issues related to SEND provision in Newham.
Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • oOccupational therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and language therapist or Nursing qualification at degree level or equivalent
  • oHealth Professions council license to practice/NMC membership
  • oDemonstrable understanding of the required specialist knowledge and CPD
  • oEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

  • oExpert clinical experience within a healthcare environment.
  • oExtensive and recent experience of work with children with SEND/developmental delay
  • oExtensive and recent experience of work relating to CAMHS and CYP Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath
  • oExperience of working effectively in partnership with multiple agencies and with stakeholders
  • oService development and improvement experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to use own judgement and initiative to prioritise own work load.
  • oAbility to work effectively independently and as part of a team.
  • oGood communication skills with Families and colleagues.
  • oProblem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
  • oAbility to negotiate on difficult and complex/ detailed issues related to SEND provision in Newham.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Ham Lane Child Development Centre

84, west Ham Lane, London

London

E15 4PT


Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Ham Lane Child Development Centre

84, west Ham Lane, London

London

E15 4PT


Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Children's Therapies

Marion Levine

marionlevine@nhs.net

07741704013

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year per annum

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-SS7486569

Job locations

West Ham Lane Child Development Centre

84, west Ham Lane, London

London

E15 4PT


Supporting documents

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