Send Reform Data Analyst

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Essex County Council’s SEND Reform Programme is seeking a Data Analyst to gather, validate and interpret data from multiple sources, turning it into clear intelligence for decision making. This hybrid role is based in Chelmsford, with office attendance required at least one day per month.

You will develop dashboards and reports to support governance, planning and evaluation, collaborating with operational and corporate teams to improve data quality and deliver measurable benefits.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (RQF Level 6) in data analytics, statistics, business intelligence, education or related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Experience gathering, cleaning and analysing complex data from multiple sources.
• Ability to translate analysis into clear, accessible, actionable intelligence for non-technical audiences.
• Experience developing dashboards, reports and data visualisations using Power BI, SQL, Excel or Tableau.
• Knowledge of information governance, data protection and QA in public services.

Responsibilities

• Gather, validate and analyse data from SEND operational systems, corporate sources and partners.
• Translate complex data into clear intelligence and visualisations for governance boards.
• Develop dashboards and reports tracking reform delivery, performance and outcomes.
• Produce geo- and cohort-level analyses to inform local planning and delivery arrangements.
• Support evaluation and self-evaluation with clear baselines and measures.
• Prepare information for governance and statutory returns, explaining findings clearly.

Skills

Data analytics

Dashboard development

Data storytelling

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in data analytics/statistics/BI

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Excel

Tableau

Job description

This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day per month, depending on business need.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, so applicants must have current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

The SEND Reform Programme is redesigning how children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are supported across Essex. High-quality data and intelligence are essential to the design, delivery and evaluation of the Reform Plan and the new SEND service. The SEND Reform Data Analyst will gather, validate, analyse and interpret data from internal and external sources, turning it into clear intelligence that informs decisions, service design, delivery and evaluation. The role will provide insight into need, access requirements, performance, capacity, outcomes, variation and gaps, helping leaders understand the current system, shape future models and assess whether changes are delivering the intended benefits. Working closely with operational services, corporate data team, SEND strategic colleagues and partners, the post holder will develop reporting, analysis and data products for programme governance, service leaders and external returns. The role will support evidence-based implementation across the SEND Reform workstreams, including geographical planning, performance and benefits tracking, self-evaluation and continuous improvement. We are recruiting two SEND Reform Data Analysts to work under the oversight of the SEND Data and Intelligence Lead.

Accountabilities

• Gather, combine, validate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data from SEND operational systems, corporate sources and partners, ensuring analysis is accurate, proportionate and fit for purpose.
• Translate complex data into clear intelligence, visualisations and concise narratives that enable reform leads, operational managers and governance boards to understand demand, performance, variation, risks and opportunities.
• Provide analytical input to the design and implementation of the SEND Reform Plan and new SEND service, including baselining current activity, modelling need and testing assumptions for future operating models.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, scorecards, datasets and regular reporting that track reform delivery, service performance, outcomes, benefits and key dependencies.
• Produce geographical and cohort-level analysis to inform local planning, workforce deployment, sufficiency and the development of support through school clusters and other local delivery arrangements.
• Support programme evaluation and self-evaluation by defining measures, establishing baselines, monitoring impact and identifying where delivery needs to adapt, working closely with evaluation, improvement and programme colleagues.
• Prepare accurate and timely information for internal governance, inspection readiness, statutory requirements and Department for Education returns, including supporting evidence and clear explanations of findings.
• Work collaboratively with operational and corporate teams to improve data quality, definitions, collection and reporting, escalating gaps or limitations and agreeing practical improvements.
• Apply appropriate information governance, data protection and quality assurance requirements, clearly communicating the limitations of available data and analysis.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Requirements

• Educated to RQF Level 6 (degree level) in data analytics, statistics, business intelligence, social research, education or a related subject, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in data analysis, performance or business intelligence is desirable.
• Experience of gathering, cleaning, joining and analysing complex data from multiple sources, with the ability to identify patterns, variation, risks and data limitations.
• Ability to translate analysis into clear, accessible and actionable intelligence for operational managers, programme leads, senior leaders and non-technical audiences.
• Experience of developing dashboards, reports and data visualisations using tools such as Power BI, SQL, Excel, Tableau or equivalent analytical solutions.
• Experience of supporting service design, transformation, performance management or evaluation by establishing baselines, defining measures and assessing impact.
• Strong collaborative skills, with experience of working across operational and corporate teams to clarify requirements, improve data quality and deliver shared analytical products.
• Understanding of information governance, data protection, analytical quality assurance and the responsible use of data within a complex public service environment.
• Knowledge of SEND services, Education, Health and Care Plans, statutory responsibilities or the wider education, health and care system is desirable, with the ability to build subject knowledge quickly.