NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Designated Clinical Officer

The closing date is 09 November 2025

Job summary

NHS Gloucestershire is responsible for the commissioning of hospital, community and primary care-based services across Gloucestershire. We are recruiting a Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) to provide clinical leadership, assurance, and specialist health advice across education, health and social care to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

This vacancy is a full-time permanent position, where the successful candidate will primarily work alongside our Designated Medical Officer (DMO), Childrens Commissioning team, Local Authority colleagues, Parent Carer Forum and SEND Leads within our provider organisations.

We want all children and young people in Gloucestershire to thrive, exceed expectations and live remarkable lives. We will support children to be confident, achieve their ambitions be aspirational and progress positively into adulthood. To do so we will work co-productively with children, families, early years, education, health, and care services.

Main duties of the job

Provide clinical advice to the ICB, local authorities and schools on assessment, pathways and best practice for SEND.

Act as the lead for health in quality improvement and multi agency case reviews.

Support workforce development, training and professional supervision across partner organisations.

Represent the ICB at local and regional multi agency forums and contribute to strategic and joint commissioning.

Provide oversight and assurance that NHS Gloucestershire meet our statutory duties for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years.

About us

At our Organisation, our selection process ensures we recruit candidates with the right skills and values. We monitor AI use in applications and remain alert to misuse that misrepresents abilities. You must declare any AI use when submitting your application.

Details

Date posted

28 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

D9843-ICB-6064HB-A

Job locations

Shire Hall, Gloucestershire County Council

Westgate Street

Gloucester

GL1 2TG


Job description

Job responsibilities

To lead and coordinate the ICB Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities SEND statutory duties, working closely with the Local Authority, Schools and EY settings, Parent Carer Forum, ICB Commissioning Colleagues including the ICB Executive lead for SEND/Senior Responsible Officer SRO and SEND leads within provider organisations. This will involve providing oversight and assurance that NHS Gloucestershire meet our statutory duties for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years

The role supports the business in driving transformation.

The role is designed to build a combination of subject matter expertise and technical skills to develop a strong service delivery.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To lead and coordinate the ICB Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities SEND statutory duties, working closely with the Local Authority, Schools and EY settings, Parent Carer Forum, ICB Commissioning Colleagues including the ICB Executive lead for SEND/Senior Responsible Officer SRO and SEND leads within provider organisations. This will involve providing oversight and assurance that NHS Gloucestershire meet our statutory duties for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years

The role supports the business in driving transformation.

The role is designed to build a combination of subject matter expertise and technical skills to develop a strong service delivery.

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

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

  • Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
  • Holds a relevant clinical qualification such as a Registered Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language therapist and is registered with the appropriate professional body e.g the NMC or HCPC.
  • Extensive knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) legislation acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent.
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy in relation to SEND and the implications of this on engagement.
  • An appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England, and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
  • Continuing Care and Adults Continuing Healthcare and be confident in identifying those individuals with SEND who may meet criteria for assessment and health funding.
  • An understanding of current BNSSG and national policy and delivery of SEND and awareness of the associated challenges.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the key functions of the Designated Clinical Officer and responsibilities of the ICB in relation to SEND.
  • Has undertaken Safeguarding Adults and Children training and is confident and experienced in reporting safeguarding concerns.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of mental health legislation in relation to children and young people.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and young people with SEND and utilising effective strategies to ensure that their voice and aspirations are heard.
  • Experience of participating in a local area Ofsted / CQC SEND Inspections.

Analytical

Essential

  • Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
  • Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
  • Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
  • Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
  • Ability to review EHC Plans and complex professional advice and make clinical judgements and recommendations on behalf of the ICB.

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
  • Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
  • Good networking skills, able to engage effectively with professionals and members of the public.
  • Ability to forge and sustain highly effective working relationships with other Designated Clinical Offers and Designated Medical Officers, actively participating in delivering education and training programmes for health, education and social care staff
  • Ability to challenge other clinicians constructively from a position of knowledge and understanding of current best practice and legal frameworks.
  • To continually engage with individuals and carers to ensure their active involvement in the planning and delivery of services through a variety of mechanisms including provider forums, Partnership Boards, stakeholder events and consultations.

Planning Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
  • Ability to contribute to commissioning intentions by sharing intelligence on SEND with commissioners to aid planning and inform future health service provision for the population of Gloucestershire with SEND,

Desirable

  • Experience of identifying and supporting transitions for children and young people with SEND who are preparing for adulthood.
Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

  • Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
  • Holds a relevant clinical qualification such as a Registered Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language therapist and is registered with the appropriate professional body e.g the NMC or HCPC.
  • Extensive knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) legislation acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent.
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy in relation to SEND and the implications of this on engagement.
  • An appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England, and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
  • Continuing Care and Adults Continuing Healthcare and be confident in identifying those individuals with SEND who may meet criteria for assessment and health funding.
  • An understanding of current BNSSG and national policy and delivery of SEND and awareness of the associated challenges.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the key functions of the Designated Clinical Officer and responsibilities of the ICB in relation to SEND.
  • Has undertaken Safeguarding Adults and Children training and is confident and experienced in reporting safeguarding concerns.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of mental health legislation in relation to children and young people.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and young people with SEND and utilising effective strategies to ensure that their voice and aspirations are heard.
  • Experience of participating in a local area Ofsted / CQC SEND Inspections.

Analytical

Essential

  • Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
  • Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
  • Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
  • Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
  • Ability to review EHC Plans and complex professional advice and make clinical judgements and recommendations on behalf of the ICB.

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
  • Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
  • Good networking skills, able to engage effectively with professionals and members of the public.
  • Ability to forge and sustain highly effective working relationships with other Designated Clinical Offers and Designated Medical Officers, actively participating in delivering education and training programmes for health, education and social care staff
  • Ability to challenge other clinicians constructively from a position of knowledge and understanding of current best practice and legal frameworks.
  • To continually engage with individuals and carers to ensure their active involvement in the planning and delivery of services through a variety of mechanisms including provider forums, Partnership Boards, stakeholder events and consultations.

Planning Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
  • Ability to contribute to commissioning intentions by sharing intelligence on SEND with commissioners to aid planning and inform future health service provision for the population of Gloucestershire with SEND,

Desirable

  • Experience of identifying and supporting transitions for children and young people with SEND who are preparing for adulthood.

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.

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.

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

NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Address

Shire Hall, Gloucestershire County Council

Westgate Street

Gloucester

GL1 2TG


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Address

Shire Hall, Gloucestershire County Council

Westgate Street

Gloucester

GL1 2TG


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Business Support Assistant

Wendy Stone

wendy.stone@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

28 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

D9843-ICB-6064HB-A

Job locations

Shire Hall, Gloucestershire County Council

Westgate Street

Gloucester

GL1 2TG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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