Deputy Designated Clinical Officer SEND

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking experienced Deputy Designated Clinical Officers to improve health outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs. Responsibilities include compliance with health legislation, leadership in health service improvements, and collaboration with multi-agency partners. Candidates should have a nursing background and experience in community settings.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (Part 1 NMC) and/or registered Specialist Public Health Nurse.
• Education to Masters level or commitment to working towards it.
• Recent significant leadership experience in NHS or Local Authority.

Responsibilities

• Ensure statutory duties for children with SEND are met.
• Lead and oversee health component of EHCP quality assurance process.
• Provide professional and clinical leadership in service improvement.

Skills

Understanding of SEND in the reformed NHS

Strong communication skills

Experience with the Education, Health and Care planning process

Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders

Experience of effective co-production involving service users

Education

Registered Nurse or Specialist Public Health Nurse

Educated to Masters level or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced health professional with a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND? We are looking to recruit 2 x innovative Deputy Designated Clinical Officers (DDCO) to work across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. The roles will support the current Designated Clinical Officer to improve performance, enhance patient experiences and outcomes, and sustain safe, efficient and affordable services. The post holders will also have a key role in supporting the shaping and transforming of services as we respond to legislative and national change programmes, and work to deliver greater system integration and effectiveness for children and young people aged 0-25 years with special educational needs. The Deputy Designated Clinical Officers will be an integral part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB), with joint reporting arrangements to Bedfordshire and Luton Community Health Services (Cambridgeshire Community Health Services). We are looking for candidates with experience of developing and maintaining productive and effective relationships with multi-agency partners, and who embrace equality and strive to reduce inequality in patient outcomes. There is a possibility that the vacancy may close early if there is a high number of applications.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Work closely with the DCO to ensure that the ICB is meeting its statutory duties for children and young people with SEND (0-25 years), providing assurance, scrutiny and driving improvement.
2. Support the DCO in ensuring the health system’s compliance with the legislation and spirit of the SEND Code of Practice, leading to improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
3. Provide leadership and coordination of the ICB and health providers in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes in relation to children and young people with SEND, working with education and social care services and voluntary sector organisations.
4. Provide professional and clinical leadership and be a source of expertise on EHCP assessment and SEND appeals as part of partnership working with the Local Authority, health care providers and other local agencies and organisations.
5. Work in partnership with the DCO, ICB and Local Authority SEND Leads to provide specialist input into strategic and clinical planning, standard setting and assurance processes in service provision for children and young people with EHCPs.
6. Support health providers to co-produce service direction, improvements and the values on which they are based, with users of the services.
7. Promote a culture that embraces equality and continuously reduces inequality in access and outcomes for all residents in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
8. Identify needs of children and young people with SEND and their families to inform joint commissioning.
9. Act as an expert resource for families and professionals regarding health services for children and young people aged 0-25 years with SEND.
10. Work in co-production with the Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Parent Carer Forums to consider feedback on the quality of local health services and identify gaps in provision.
11. Escalate concerns in conjunction with the DCO, demonstrating the ability to identify risk and mitigation strategies to support the Executive Leads within the ICB.

Main Duties and Responsibilities (cont.)

1. Work with health partners to ensure obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015 are met and understood.
2. Work in accordance with the Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton SEND strategies, monitoring progress towards co-produced outcomes.
3. Provide innovative, specialist knowledge and clinical leadership in prevention, early identification and notification for children and young people with SEND.
4. Deputise for the DCO as requested, making highly complex judgments in relation to health provision within EHCPs.
5. Lead and oversee the health component of the EHCP quality assurance process, including quality reports and high-level scrutiny for commissioners.
6. Provide health specialist advice and support at multi-agency SEND panels across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.
7. Contribute to multi-agency case planning meetings with system partners to support a holistic approach for CYP with SEND.
8. Help manage and investigate complaints, following policy and procedural guidance to resolve concerns timely and satisfactorily.
9. Interpret national policies for SEND in coordination with the DCO or its delegate.
10. Liaise with education colleagues including early years settings, schools, academies and colleges.
11. Demonstrate autonomous working with effective time management and prioritisation.

Person Specification

Skills
Essential

• Understanding of SEND in the reformed NHS and the roles of commissioners, providers, and NHS England.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children and Families Act (2014) and the SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25 years (2015).
• Experience with the Education, Health and Care planning process and pathways, including highly complex assessments.
• Strong communication skills to engage NHS/LA senior managers and local communities in service development and change; includes organisational, interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and conflict management abilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including children, young people and their parents and carers.
• Experience of effective co-production involving service users and/or their representatives, and joint agreement of positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Part 1 NMC) and/or registered Specialist Public Health Nurse (Part 3 NMC) with a child and family focus, or registered paediatric AHP with HCPC.
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent, or a commitment to working towards it; wide clinical experience in acute or community settings.

Desirable

• Teaching or mentoring qualification.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with children, young people and adults in a community setting.
• Recent significant leadership experience at a management level in NHS/Local Authority with a track record of using professional knowledge to drive change.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Experience of establishing effective operational and strategic links with colleagues from local authorities.

Desirable

• NHS experience / Social Services / Local Government.

Other

Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a DBS disclosure is required. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. UK Registration of professional credentials is required.