Cluster Co-ordinator

BCP Council; Christchurch, Poole; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

BCP Council is seeking a Cluster Co-ordinator to lead the Experts at Hand inclusion programme across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. You will coordinate support for schools and partners, ensuring accessible, timely guidance and multi-agency collaboration to improve outcomes for children and young people.

You will be pivotal in coordinating cradle-to-career activity, developing pathways and reporting on SEND, attendance and behaviour.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent).
• Experience of coordinating services, programmes, projects or operational delivery within education, children's services, SEND, inclusion, health, social care or a related field.
• Experience of working with schools, academies, early years settings or post-16 providers.
• Experience of supporting multi-agency and multidisciplinary working.
• Experience of managing referrals, requests for support or other structured processes.
• Experience of analysing and reporting information to support planning and decision‑making.
• Strong understanding of SEND, inclusion and the needs of vulnerable children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and information governance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key point of contact for schools, educational settings and partner agencies within your locality cluster.
• Coordinate the delivery of the Experts at Hand model, ensuring support is accessible, responsive and aligned to local needs.
• Manage and oversee the Request for Help and Targeted Funding processes, ensuring requests are recorded, triaged, allocated and reviewed effectively.
• Coordinate cradle-to-career activity and support the development of pathways that promote positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, networks, workshops, training events and multidisciplinary discussions.
• Support Inclusion Leads and specialist practitioners by coordinating activity and helping ensure effective planning and deployment of resources.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships across education, health, social care, the voluntary sector and wider agencies.
• Analyse and report on inclusion, attendance, behaviour, SEND and service activity data to identify trends, priorities and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate records, case information, databases and management systems in line with information governance requirements.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance activities to assess impact and support continuous improvement.
• Promote the sharing of best practice and support local capacity-building within schools and educational settings.
• Contribute to the delivery of local authority inclusion, SEND and education improvement priorities.

Skills

Coordination

Multi-agency working

Data analysis

Safeguarding

ICT skills

Education

Degree-level qualification

GCSE English & Maths

Tools

Microsoft 365

Data management systems

Job description

Starting salary for this role is £45,529 (pro rata for part-time colleagues)

This role sits within a well defined pay band, offering clear progression as you grow your career at BCP. Without exception all new starters begin at the entry point of the band, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organisation. Be part of a forward thinking workplace where you’re supported to grow and you can truly #BeTheDifference at BCP.

Internal colleagues are also normally appointed at the bottom of the band, unless moving within the same profession and skill level, where the pay band is the same they can be appointed to the existing pay point.

Learn more in our ‘More than just a job’ brochure on our careers site.

Join our growing team and help strengthen inclusion across BCP

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, and motivated by bringing people together to make a difference? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where collaboration, problem-solving and relationship-building are at the heart of what you do? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Our children and young people tell us that "we learn best when staff understand us, adapt learning, and understand the right tools and relationships" As a Cluster Co-ordinator, you will play a vital role in helping to make this vision a reality by ensuring schools, settings and partners can access the right support at the right time.

We are excited to recruit Cluster Co-ordinators to join our ambitious and evolving Inclusion Support Partnership (Experts at Hand). This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the delivery of our innovative model, helping to coordinate support for children and young people aged 0-25 across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

As a Cluster Co-ordinator, you will be a key member of a locality cluster team, working alongside Inclusion Leads, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, school leader secondees and wider partners. Together, we are strengthening inclusive practice across mainstream education and ensuring children and young people receive timely, effective support that enables them to thrive.

Our innovative approach is built on strong partnerships between schools, families, services and communities. By coordinating support, facilitating collaboration and maintaining a clear overview of local needs, you will help ensure resources are deployed effectively, barriers are addressed early and expertise is readily available where it is needed most.

We are looking for individuals who are organised, proactive and passionate about inclusion. This role offers the opportunity to work at the centre of a transformational programme, supporting schools and educational settings to build confidence, capacity and expertise while helping to shape the future of inclusion services across BCP.

If you value collaboration, relationship-building and making a meaningful contribution to the lives of children and young people, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a pioneering model designed to improve outcomes for children, families and communities across our area.

About The Role

As a Cluster Co-ordinator, you will:

• Act as a key point of contact for schools, educational settings and partner agencies within your locality cluster.
• Coordinate the delivery of the Experts at Hand model, ensuring support is accessible, responsive and aligned to local needs.
• Manage and oversee the Request for Help and Targeted Funding processes, ensuring requests are recorded, triaged, allocated and reviewed effectively.
• Coordinate cradle-to-career activity and support the development of pathways that promote positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, networks, workshops, training events and multidisciplinary discussions.
• Support Inclusion Leads and specialist practitioners by coordinating activity and helping ensure effective planning and deployment of resources.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships across education, health, social care, the voluntary sector and wider agencies.
• Analyse and report on inclusion, attendance, behaviour, SEND and service activity data to identify trends, priorities and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate records, case information, databases and management systems in line with information governance requirements.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance activities to assess impact and support continuous improvement.
• Promote the sharing of best practice and support local capacity-building within schools and educational settings.
• Contribute to the delivery of local authority inclusion, SEND and education improvement priorities.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent).

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience of coordinating services, programmes, projects or operational delivery within education, children's services, SEND, inclusion, health, social care or a related field.
• Experience of working with schools, academies, early years settings or post-16 providers.
• Experience of supporting multi-agency and multidisciplinary working.
• Experience of managing referrals, requests for support or other structured processes.
• Experience of analysing and reporting information to support planning and decision‑making.
• Strong understanding of SEND, inclusion and the needs of vulnerable children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and information governance requirements.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building abilities.
• Ability to coordinate complex activity involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Advanced ICT skills, including Microsoft 365 and data management systems.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, equality and improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Ability to travel across locality clusters and educational settings as required.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a job. It's an opportunity to:

• Play a central role in delivering an ambitious transformation of inclusion services across BCP.
• Work within a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Build meaningful relationships with schools, settings and partner agencies and see the impact of your work over time.
• Support innovative approaches to inclusion through the Experts at Hand and cradle‑to‑career models.
• Influence local decision‑making through the effective use of information, data and partnership working.
• Develop your own skills and expertise through ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Help create stronger, more inclusive communities where children and young people can achieve, belong and thrive.

Join us if you are passionate about inclusion, committed to collaboration and motivated by helping services work together more effectively. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping an innovative approach to supporting children and young people across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.

At BCP Council, inclusion is more than a promise – it’s how we work.

We’re committed to providing a fully inclusive recruitment process ensuring every candidate and colleague has the support and reasonable adjustments they need to thrive.

From the moment you apply, through the recruitment process and throughout your career with us, we’ll be here to listen and provide the help and support you need.

It’s why we’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer – and why you can trust that we’ll always do our best to make your experience positive and accessible.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us directly – we’re here to help. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer please see here: Preparing for your interview | Working for BCP

About BCP Council

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world‑renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, world‑class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.

Our Benefits

A Place to Thrive – Join BCP Council

At BCP Council, we’re not just building a workforce— we’re transforming how we recognise and reward our people.

Check out our attractive enhanced benefits and find out more about the new Pay and Reward package at Employee benefits | Working for BCP

Be the difference - Join an organisation that values you

More About us | Working for BCP

DBS

BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check.