SEND Engagement & Communications Officer

Gloucestershire County Council; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and agile working

25.5 days' annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Green Car Scheme

Career development and qualificationOp

Employee Assistance Programme 24/7

Occupational Health support

Prism network access

Young Employees Network

Job summary

Gloucestershire County Council is seeking a SEND Communications & Engagement Officer to join the Communications Team. You will work with education colleagues, schools and families to explain services, changes and how to have a say.

You’ll deliver engaging, accessible messages across channels and help us tell the stories of the difference SEND makes. You will be a confident, creative communicator, adept at listening to different perspectives, building relationships and planning communications

Qualifications

• Excellent writing skills and ability to turn complex information into clear messages
• Confident and creative communicator with ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences
• Ability to build strong relationships, listen to different perspectives and plan communications/engagement activities
• Experience of working in local government would be helpful but isn’t essential; fluent English required by immigration rules

Responsibilities

• Create clear, accessible communications across multiple channels
• Support meaningful engagement with families, schools, partners, parents, carers and young people
• Help tell stories showing the impact of SEND support to inform and involve communities
• Collaborate with education colleagues to plan communications and engagement activities

Job description

As our SEND Communications & Engagement Officer, you'll join Gloucestershire County Council's Communications Team and work closely with our education colleagues, schools, partners, parents, carers and young people. You'll help make sure people understand what support is available, how services are changing and, importantly, how they can have their say. You'll create clear, accessible and engaging communications across a range of channels, support meaningful engagement with families and stakeholders, and help us tell the stories that show the difference good SEND support can make. It's a varied and rewarding role where your communications expertise can help people feel informed, listened to and involved.

You're a confident and creative communicator who knows how to turn complex information into clear, accessible messages for different audiences. You'll be comfortable building strong relationships, listening to different perspectives and working with colleagues, partners and communities to plan communications and engagement activity. You'll have excellent writing skills, good judgement and a positive, proactive approach. Most importantly, you'll understand that great communication is about more than sharing information. It's about listening, building trust and helping people feel involved. Experience of working in local government would be helpful, but isn't essential., It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.

We want you to have a rewarding career with Gloucestershire County Council, with the flexibility and support to do your best work. Hybrid working is available for this role, with two days a week based at Shire Hall in Gloucester.

• Flexible and agile working
• 25.5 days' annual leave
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days' leave each year
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Family-friendly policies and benefits
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7
• Occupational Health support
• Employee discounts
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Gloucestershire Salary Sacrifice Green Car Scheme, subject to terms and conditions
• Access to employee networks, including Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network

You’ll join a supportive communications team where you can develop your skills while doing work that matters to Gloucestershire's communities.