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Job summary

Main area
speech therapy/Occupational therapy/ Physiotherapy/ Nursing/ AHPs
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Secondment: 12 months
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (monday to friday)
Job ref
363-SS7486569
Employer
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
West Ham Lane Child Development Centre
Town
London
Salary
£61,631 - £68,623 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

East London NHS Foundation Trust logo

Designated Clinical Officer - SEND

NHS AfC: Band 8a

ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving 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.

Job overview

     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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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 people’s 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 criteria
  • • Occupational therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and language therapist or Nursing qualification at degree level or equivalent
  • • Health Professions council license to practice/NMC membership
  • • Demonstrable understanding of the required specialist knowledge and CPD
  • • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Expert clinical experience within a healthcare environment.
  • • Extensive and recent experience of work with children with SEND/developmental delay
  • • Extensive and recent experience of work relating to CAMHS and CYP Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath
  • • Experience of working effectively in partnership with multiple agencies and with stakeholders
  • • Service development and improvement experience

Skills and Abilities

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

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Capital Nurse, LondonCommitted to being an Inclusive EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveHSJ Best places to workArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare quality commission - OutstandingStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Marion Levine
Job title
Head of Children's Therapies
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07741704013
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